NPA to charge former Hawks boss Dramat for illegal renditions

Johannesburg - The NPA has formally charged former Hawks boss Anwa Dramat, former Gauteng head Shadrack Sibiya and Lesley Maluleke with the alleged illegal deportation of five Zimbabweans.

Spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku told News24 on Friday that this was the first time the National Prosecuting Authority had laid charges against them, contrary to reports that the charges were being reinstated.

"They were never charged, it will be their first appearance," Mfaku said.

The three men would face seven counts of kidnapping, one of defeating the ends of justice, and four of illegal deportation, in terms of the Immigration Act.

Maluleke, another senior Hawks official, would face another three counts of robbery for allegedly taking possessions from the Zimbabwean nationals when they were being deported, Mfaku said.

The men had been notified of Pretoria Director of Public Prosecutions Sibongile Mzinyathi's decision on Friday. They would appear in court within the next two weeks. In December 2014, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko suspended Dramat as Hawks boss for his alleged involvement in the matter.

A day later, Dramat wrote to Nhleko claiming he was being targeted because he was investigating "dockets implicating influential people", including former police crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli.

He insinuated he feared for his life, and said he would be willing to accept early retirement - as provided for in the Police Act - on condition that Nhleko lift his suspension.

In January last year, the High Court in Pretoria ruled Dramat's suspension was unconstitutional and that he should be reinstated in his post. He however resigned three months later. He was reportedly offered a R3m golden handshake to vacate his position.

Sibiya was fired on August 31 last year for his alleged involvement in the renditions of five Zimbabweans in 2010.

Sibiya had denied any part in it. An inquiry found it unlikely he would not have been aware of the renditions, based on cellphone records and him being at the Hawks offices when Zimbabwean authorities were meeting Dramat.

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.