Dramat quit ‘at his own request’

Anwa Dramat's resignation has angered opposition parties. File picture: Antoine de Ras

Anwa Dramat's resignation has angered opposition parties. File picture: Antoine de Ras

Published Apr 22, 2015

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Johannesburg - Hawks boss Lieutenant-General Anwa Dramat has resigned following a settlement, national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega told MPs on Tuesday, subsequently confirming to Independent Media his departure was “at his own request”.

However, Phiyega declined to give details of the settlement: “The minister will talk about that. I can confirm it was at his (Dramat’s) request”. Contacted for commenton Tuesday evening, Dramat said: “I don’t want to comment at all.”

Dramat’s resignation marks the end of one of several bruising battles in the top SAPS echelons which not only queried the reasons behind the suspensions, but also the processes followed. While the head of the Hawks can be suspended by the minister, removal from office would involve a recommendation of Parliament.

Suspended in December over the illegal 2010 rendition of at least four Zimbabweans, the High Court in Pretoria ruled Dramat’s suspension unlawful.

Brought by the Helen Suzman Foundation, it said it had brought the case in the interest of the rule of law. However, Dramat never returned to his office – where the locks had been changed in any case.

Speculation has been rife that action against Dramat did not come over the illegal renditions – a report by the police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, cleared him, although Ipid boss Robert McBride is now also fighting suspension – but because he had requested the files of investigations into the Nkandla security upgrades, which cost taxpayers R215 million.

On Tuesday, the DA and Freedom Front Plus reacted with anger over the confirmation that Dramat had resigned. “It sets a most terrible precedent. The next time a head of the Hawks calls for inconvenient files such as the Nkandla files, they will be driven out. (Dramat) was driven out,” said DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard.

Said FF+ MP Pieter Groenewald: “We do not appreciate his leaving because it is quite clear it is because of pressure. We would like to know if there was a golden handshake. If there was, it is unacceptable because it’s taxpayers’ money.”

The Police Ministry could not be reached for comment and voicemail requests were not responded to.

Last month, police remained mum on a Mail & Guardian report that put the settlement figure at a R3m lump sum and monthly R60 000 payments until age 60. This would effectively amount to a total of over R11.6m.

Political Bureau

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