2016-05-18 21:04
Karabo Ngoepe, News24
Berning Ntlemeza (Tammy Petersen, News24)
Pretoria- The South African Communist Party (SACP) has accused Hawks head Berning Ntlemeza of having a political agenda.
Ntlemeza was overheard saying "communists must be harassed" and that SACP North West secretary Madoda Sambatha would be next, spokesperson Alex Mashilo said in a statement on Wednesday.
A unnamed "leader of an SACP organ" overheard Ntlemeza making the remark to another person. Mashilo said they would not disclose where and when this happened as they intended taking the matter further.
"The conduct of the Hawks under Ntlemeza's stewardship is increasingly leaving much to be desired, and indeed reflects politically motivated, factional and private agendas."
Mashilo said the party condemned Ntlemeza's actions and would explore all avenues available to it to confront the abuse of state power.
Ntlemeza has reportedly been involved in efforts to have Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan prosecuted for allegedly spying on taxpayers during his tenure as Sars commissioner. He was involved in court battles with the unit's former Gauteng head Shadrack Sibiya and its suspended KwaZulu-Natal head Johan Booysen.
Mashilo called Gordhan a barrier against the looting of public resources and said he was being isolated and targeted.
Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi rubbished the SACP's claims that they would target Sambatha. He said the unit's only mandate was to combat, prevent, and investigate all serious organised crime, commercial crime, and corruption.
He found it puzzling that the party did not reveal the name of the person who claimed to have overheard the conversation and challenged the SACP to open a case and present its evidence in court.
The party should present its "malicious accusations" to the office of retired Judge Essa Moosa, who was appointed in October 2013 to handle complaints against the Hawks, he said.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/ntlemeza-has-political-agenda-sacp-20160518