The SACP said Berning Ntlemeza has been overheard saying he had a mandate to harass communists.
YouTube screengrab of head of the Hawks Berning Ntlemeza.
Stephen Grootes | about 22 hours ago
JOHANNESBURG - The South African Communist Party (SACP) says it's standing firm on its claim about certain police officers being apartheid cops, despite Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko saying its suggestion that Hawks head Berning Ntlemeza is one, is unfair.
Nhleko said yesterday that black people joined the police during apartheid because they needed work, while white people joined it to uphold the system.
Last week, the SACP said it was supporting Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, and that Ntlemeza had been overheard saying he had a mandate to harass communists.
The party's Alex Mashilo says Nhleko should have spoken to them about their claims.
"Had the minister wasted just a second of his time to contact the SACP, he would not have made the unfortunate utterances that he made yesterday at his press conference."
(Edited by Masechaba Sefularo)
http://ewn.co.za/2016/05/25/SACP-stands-firm-on-apartheid-cop-claims