Hawks head Dramat quits

And further shock waves ran through the ranks yesterday when Hawks boss Lieutenant-General Anwar Dramat handed his resignation to national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega.

Dramat, whose earlier suspension was declared unlawful by the Pretoria High Court, which ordered he be allowed to return to work, did not return calls last night.

Anwar Dramat has reisgned, even though his earlier suspension was declared unlawful by the Pretoria High Court. (Image extracted from YouTube)

His resignation, said to be over an investigation into his alleged knowledge of the rendition of Zimbabwean political dissidents back to that country from South Africa, follows the suspension of Western Cape provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Arno Lamoer for alleged corruption and the freezing of the crime intelligence chief's post yesterday.

Phiyega told the parliamentary portfolio committee on police yesterday that she had launched an internal investigation into Lamoer as well as into brigadiers Darius van der Ross and Kolindren Govender and the latter's wife, Logambal Govender.

Lamoer allegedly received gifts valued at about R75,000 from controversial Cape Town businessman Salim Dawjee in exchange for favours. Govender and his wife are accused of benefiting by about R1.5m and Ross is accused of receiving benefits of about R7,000.

The head of the crime intelligence post has been frozen until suspended head Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli's drawn-out case is finalised, said Phiyega.

The SAPS crime intelligence unit briefed parliament yesterday on its planning for the coming year.

The committee seemed most interested in the stability of the unit and the replacement of its head.

Answering MPs' queries, Phiyega said: "We can't fill that post until we deal with Mdluli. He is the occupier of that position."

She said the disciplinary hearing against him, which had initially been shelved, had been reinstated.

The police had been in contact with his attorneys and "we await his lawyers to come back to us".

The National Prosecuting Authority has reinstated charges against Mdluli and a labour court case had to be finalised, she said.

DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard said the situation was unacceptable. "The police commissioner needed a court order to do what she was supposed to do all along and now we are waiting for private lawyers? Why not just tell him to be there or tell him he will be found guilty in absentia?" she said.

Portfolio Committee of Police chair Francois Beukman asked if the unit was "out of the ICU". Phiyega responded: "We are in the general ward. You can send us flowers."

Source: The Times, via I-Net Bridge