Pretoria - It was unclear on Friday what would happen to decisions taken by acting Hawks head Mthandazo Berning Ntlemeza, with Anwa Dramat set to return to the position.
“At this stage, I really can't say what will happen,” Police Minister Nathi Nhleko's spokesman Musa Zondi said.
Dramat was suspended on December 23, pending a probe into his alleged involvement in the illegal rendition of four Zimbabweans in November 2010.
On Friday, the High Court in Pretoria ruled that Nhleko acted unlawfully when he suspended Dramat. The suspension was set aside.
“The order which I make is the following: it is declared that the decision of the minister of police to suspend Lt-Gen Anwa Dramat, the national head of the DPCI (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) is unlawful and invalid,” Judge Bill Prinsloo said.
“It is declared that the decision of the minister, appointing Maj-Gen Berning Ntlemeza as acting national head of the DPCI is unlawful and invalid. That decision is set aside.”
The Democratic Alliance said it expected Dramat to be back at work on Friday.
“There were blustering comments made by representatives of the police, saying even if the court rules 1/8in Dramat's favour 3/8 that doesn't mean he can go back to work. That is utter rot,” said DA spokeswoman on police Dianne Kohler Barnard.
“The ruling is that (appointing) someone in his position is unlawful. He must go back to work immediately. In fact, I expect him back in his office this afternoon,” said Kohler Barnard.
On Wednesday, Ntlemeza appointed Maj-Gen Nhlamvu Elias Dlamini as head of the Hawks in Gauteng, after Maj-Gen Shadrack Sibiya was suspended.
Sibiya was handed a notice of intention of suspension from the post on January 5. An application for the reasons for his suspension was struck from the roll of the Labour Court in Johannesburg last Wednesday. He submitted reasons why he should not be suspended and the notice was withdrawn.
Sibiya was then suspended on Tuesday, with full pay. The move was related to his alleged involvement in facilitating the illegal rendition of Zimbabweans in November 2010.
Sapa