Police Committee Chairperson accedes to DA's request for Nhleko probe

13 January 2015

On the 07 January 2015, the DA wrote a letter to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, François Beukman, requesting that an urgent probe be launched into Minister Nhleko's handling of the Dramat matter.

The DA welcomes the Chairperson Beukman's acceding to the DA's request that the Committee investigate the conduct of the Minister of Police in his unconstitutional suspension of Hawks Boss, Anwa Dramat.

This follows a statement released by Parliament this afternoon confirming that the "Committee is scheduled to receive a briefing on the current developments regarding the leadership of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in a meeting to be held on 29 January 2015."

Indeed the Constitutional Court ruled in November that the Minister may not suspend the Head of the Hawks. Section 17DA was declared "inconsistent with the Constitution and declared invalid and deleted from the date of this order." The Minister may not suspend the Head of the Hawks until Parliament has been consulted and initiated an investigation into the conduct of the Hawks Boss.

It would appear that the Police Minister deliberately circumvented a Constitutional Court order and flouted parliamentary procedure as he initiated an insidious purge of those members of the Hawks who pursue justice without fear or favour.

If the Committee finds that the Minister Nhleko acted outside his authority the DA will immediately recommend he be censured and Dramat's suspension be set aside.

The Chairperson of the Police Committee must be steadfast in his pursuit of the truth into this matter.

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, January 13 2015

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