Ntlemeza should be next

16 November 2016

The letter which surfaced yesterday from discredited National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Shaun Abrahams, to his equally compromised colleague, Head of the Hawks, Berning Ntlemeza, is yet another damming indictment against Ntlemeza.

The letter details Abrahams’s justified displeasure with Ntlemeza’s inability to stay in his lane and stick to his mandate - which is to investigate priority crime and to hand over the investigation to the NPA for the decision on whether or not to prosecute.

The DA has already written to the Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, to request that he provisionally suspend Ntlemza, as he is empowered to do in terms of Section 17DA(2) of the SAPS Act, pending a full inquiry into his fitness to hold office.

It has become clear that both the NPA and the Hawks have been politically compromised and the letter is yet another reason why Ntlemeza should be removed so that the Hawks can claw back their credibility.

Considering that Shaun Abrahams must now provide the President with reasons as to why he should not be suspended, we trust that Minister of Police will ask the same of Ntlemeza shortly.

Issued by Zakhele Mbhele, DA Shadow Minister of Police, 16 November 2016