HSF hails Dramat court ruling
INDEPENDENT MEDI
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Suspended Hawks boss Anwa Dramat. File
photo: Phill Magakoe
Johannesburg - Friday's court ruling that effectively keeps Hawks boss
Anwa Dramat in his job is a victory for the rule of law, the Helen Suzman
Foundation (HSF) said.
“The judge's order is very incisive and we're pleased to say this is a
victory for the Constitution and for the rule of law and we are delighted that
the HSF took this matter up. We feel vindicated by the judgment,” HSF director
Francis Antonie said outside the High Court in Pretoria.
In a judgment that took just a few minutes to deliver, Judge Bill
Prinsloo dismissed Police Minister Nathi Nhleko's application to appeal the
decision to overturn Dramat's suspension.
He ruled that his January 23 order allowing Dramat to return to work
remained in effect, irrespective of any other appeal that may be brought.
In that judgment, Prinsloo also ruled that Nhleko's decision to appoint
Maj-Gen Berning Ntlemeza as acting national Hawks head was unlawful and
invalid.
Antonie said: “The constitutional integrity of the Hawks is now
guaranteed. The minister has tested this in court on two occasions so far, and
I think we should get on with the business of fighting corruption in this
country.”
Nhleko was ordered to pay the HSF's costs. It brought the application
for Dramat's reinstatement.
Dramat was set to return to work after the January 23 ruling, but the
police ministry said he would not be allowed to do so until the appeals process
was completed.
He was suspended on December 23, pending a probe into his alleged
involvement in the illegal rendition of four Zimbabweans in November 2010.
