Hawks: Nhleko spends R1.7 million for malicious prosecution of Booysen
09 December 2015
A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that the total cost to date for litigation in all baseless legal action instituted against Major-General Johan Booysen has come to R1.71 million, a figure that is set to rise in light of the compromised Hawks head, Berning Ntlemeza, appealing a Durban High Court decision to overturn Booysen’s suspension.
The Durban High Court court has ruled that there is no case against Booysen, not a prima facie one, however this frivolous and wasteful litigation against Booysen continues to no productive end. It is little wonder that much of the SAPS is in a shoddy state when police management shows itself to be incompetent in this manner and clearly has the wrong priorities that are motivated by political considerations.
Instead of addressing the shameful 83% drop in the conviction rate of Hawks cases since they replaced the Scorpions, Ntlemeza is preoccupied with a witch-hunt against Major-General Booysen on spurious grounds. The price tag of this witch-hunt is nothing more than fruitless expenditure that should have been used to improve the Hawks’ effectiveness in executing their mandate.
Ironically, it was precisely the act of carrying out his duties by bringing charges against Thoshan Panday, the business partner of President Zuma’s son, which made Booysen a target.
It is evident that the fight against corruption and organised crime is not in safe hands as long as Ntlemeza is at the helm of the Hawks. He is a political deployee proving time and again that he was put in this position to drive a partisan agenda to protect President Zuma and his circle of allies and cronies.
In all of this, there is no focus on what should be the No. 1 priority of the police service: the citizens of this country and their safety and security. Instead the No. 1 priority is, as President Zuma is not shy to say, No. 1 himself and his friends. This is manifestly unfair, both to Booysen and to all South Africans who live with fear in their homes and workplaces and in the streets.
Text of the reply:
36/1/4/1/201500351
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 4241
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 NOVEMBER 2015
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 51-2015)
4241. Mr Z N Mbhele (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:
What has been the total cost to date for litigation in all legal actions instituted against a certain person (name and details furnished) by the SA Police Service?
NW5119E
REPLY:
The total costs incurred to date amounts to R1 717 351-52 calculated as follows:
Disciplinary hearing R1 088 193-54
Review of the disciplinary hearing (SAPS) R 226 062-00
Review of the arbitration (Maj Gen Booysen) R 403 095-98
TOTAL R1 717 351-52
ENDS
Statement issued by Zakhele Mbhele MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, 9 December 2015
