New police minister appoints Lt-Gen Yolisa Matakata as the acting head of the Hawks to take over from Berning Ntlemeza
Police Minister Fikile Mbalula has appointed Lieutenant-General Yolisa Matakata as the acting head of the Hawks.
This after a full bench of the High Court in Pretoria dismissed Ntlemeza’s application for leave to appeal against an earlier ruling that found his appointment to be invalid.
He was fired with immediate effect.
Matakata is the deputy head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).
Mbalula on Thursday said he expected society and members of the Hawks to rally behind Matakata.
Ntlemeza was appointed head of the Hawks in December 2014 by then Police Minister Nathi Nhleko.
The Helen Suzman Foundation and Freedom Under Law brought an application for Ntlemeza’s appointment to be declared irrational and unlawful and set aside‚ asking the court to refer the appointment back to a selection panel for a new candidate to be chosen.
