Limpopo - Acting head of the Hawks Major-General Berning Ntlemeza is being investigated for allegedly defeating the ends of justice.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) confirmed the investigation on Tuesday.
“At this stage, I cannot give any further details,” Ipid national spokesman Moses Dlamini said.
The Star understands that Ntlemeza’s probe relates to a fraud case opened against a former police captain who was fired from the police service on allegations that he misused state resources.
A source who has knowledge of the investigation said the cases against the ex-police captain and Ntlemeza were opened by junior officer Lieutenant Boitumelo Ramahlaha.
It is alleged that Ntlemeza, while Limpopo’s deputy police commissioner, initially protected the police captain. However, the captain, whose name is known to The Star, was later fired.
Ramahlaha refused to say anything initially. Later, he called back to say SAPS policy prevented him speaking.
“I’m aware that, on instruction of somebody senior in the SAPS, my phone calls, SMSes and WhatsApp (messages) are being monitored. That is why I called you back, so that when they listen, as they’re doing now, they will know I did not speak to you about this matter,” said Ramahlaha.
He then referred queries to his attorney, Yolandi Hewetson, who confirmed that Ramahlaha had opened a case of fraud and corruption against the expelled police captain.
She declined to comment on whether Ramahlaha had opened a case of defeating the ends of justice against Ntlemeza, adding that the SAPS and Ipid were better positioned to comment on that matter.
Polokwane police spokesman Captain Ntobeng Phala also declined to comment on the police case.
He referred all enquiries to provincial acting spokesman Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, who in turn directed media enquiries to national head of communications for the police Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale. However, Makgale could not be reached for comment.
Ntlemeza was appointed acting head of the police’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks’ official name, in December. This followed Police Minister Nathi Nhleko’s suspension of Hawks chief Anwa Dramat.
The Constitutional Court later ruled Dramat’s suspension was illegal. Dramat has since resigned.
Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi dismissed the investigation as an attempt to distract Ntlemeza.
“We are aware of the fact that there would be a lot of allegations against General Ntlemeza. People should stop coming up with untruths,” Mulaudzi said.
“Why only now after he was appointed? And we know who is the source,” said Mulaudzi.
In February, the High Court in Pretoria ruled that Ntlemeza’s suspension of Gauteng head of the Hawks Major-General Shadrack Sibiya was not only illegal but also unconstitutional.
Sibiya said in court papers that Ntlemeza had suspended him to avenge his “ally”, suspended head of police crime intelligence Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli.
Ntlemeza has also suspended Sibiya’s Limpopo counterpart, Major-General Dibero Molatjana.
Police Ministry spokesman Musa Zondi could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.
The Star