New Hawks boss, a controversial appointment

[OrbitalDawn]

Major General Mthandazo Ntlemeza was linked to various controversies, including his ties to former crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli.

The acting head of the Directorate for Priority Crimes – the Hawks – Major General Mthandazo Berning Ntlemeza has been appointed as the unit’s permanent head.

Police minister Nathi Nhleko made the announcement somewhat unexpectedly during a Parliamentary media briefing in Cape Town this afternoon. According to some media reports Ntlemeza was not on the short-list for the position, but Nhleko’s spokesman Musa Zondi said he had been both shortlisted and interviewed.

Zondi said that 23 people had applied for the position “on time and there were five interviewed in one day”. “The panel consisted of the Ministers of Justice, State Security and the Deputy police Minister. They were selected because they are part of the [security] cluster,” Zondi added. While several police sources amaBhungane has spoken to since the announcement were not surprised by Ntlemeza’s appointment, it could be construed as controversial.

Ntlemeza was appointed as the specialised police unit’s acting head after its previous commander Anwa Dramat was controversially suspended by Nhleko in December last year. Dramat let go of the reigns after he reached a R6-million settlement with the police in April. It wasn’t long however, before Ntlemeza was linked to various controversies, including his ties to former crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli.

Ntlemeza, as previously reported by amaBhungane, was personally briefed by Mdluli to conduct an investigation into an alleged plot to discredit him – after Mdluli was appointed the divisional commissioner for crime intelligence in July 2009.

Rest in link.

 

[ToxicBunny]

So another dodgy appointment then...

Nice to know the Hawks will stay as useless as they have always been.

 

[durbandave]

VIVA AND VIVA.

Another pig at the trough with instructions to defend showerhead from all fronts

 

[upup]

He will do his uttermost best.