SACP lays complaint against Hawks boss

The SACP says it has laid a formal complaint against Hawks head Berning Ntlemeza, for allegedly using the agency to fight political battles.

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Johannesburg – The South African Communist Party (SACP) on Wednesday said they had laid a formal complaint at the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) against the unit’s head, Berning Ntlemeza, for allegedly using the agency to fight political battles.

The SACP accused Ntlemeza of targeting and isolating Finance Minster, Pravin Gordhan, by threatening to investigate him for his role in setting up a surveillance unit at SA Revenue Services (SARS) during his tenure as SARS Commissioner.

“We have filed a formal complaint against head of Hawks, Ntlemeza. We delayed by a week due to legal processes,” Solly Mapaila, second secretary of the SACP, said.

Speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg, Mapaila said the SACP was not questioning the credibility of Hawks, but only wanted the institution to function within the law.

“No police must be used as a toy for political gain,” he said.

Mapaila further mentioned that they were against state abuse and their campaign was aimed at eradicating corruption.

Mluleki Dlelanga, the national secretary of the Young Communist League (YCL), confirmed that the party had taken a legal route in filing a complaint against Ntlemeza.

Dlelanga said their intentions were to protect the institution and safeguard society to avoid abuse of power in office.

“We must never allow the Hawks to be used to settle political scores, we must protect it from political interference,” he said.

Ntlemeza, meanwhile, faces possible charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice after he was accused by a police officer of being responsible for making a docket disappear and of ignoring evidence of alleged criminality by another police officer.

African News Agency