Nhleko names career policeman as head of Hawks

Police Minister Nathi Nhleko on Thursday named acting head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) Major-General Berning Mthandazo Ntlemeza as the new head of the unit with immediate effect.

Ntlemeza‚ who has been acting in this position since December 2014 following the suspension and eventual resignation of Gen Anwa Dramat‚ is a career policeman who joined the service in 1981 in the then Transkei.

“It is my pleasure to announce this appointment today. Time and again‚ we have been faulted for not appointing career policemen and women into strategic positions.

“I have no doubt that Gen Ntlemeza will continue the good work that the Hawks have become famous for and help government in fighting serious organised crime and corruption.

“We wish Gen Ntlemeza the best in his position and call on all South Africans to support police in general in and particularly in helping fight crime and corruption and the spate of police killings‚” said Nhleko.

Ntlemeza matriculated at Falo High School in Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape in 1980 with a matric exemption. He joined the South African Police Service in the then Transkei in 1981 and proceeded to study for a Bachelor’s degree in Police Science with the University of the Transkei and completed it in 1989.

He further studied for a B Juris degree with the same university and completed it in 1996. He is currently studying for an LLB degree with the University of South Africa.

He served as a commander for the detectives branch in Alexandra and as acting station commander between 1996 and 1998. In 1998 he was appointed to the position of area commander for detective services in Northern Gauteng‚ a position which he occupied for a period of only two years until he was promoted to provincial commander general for investigations in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.

Ntlemeza also served as a deputy provincial commissioner for the Eastern Cape and Limpopo serving on various responsibility areas including detectives section‚ crime detection services‚ policing and crime intelligence for a period of spanning over 11 years.

He has investigated a number of cases dealing with vehicle theft‚ hijackings‚ ATM bombings with successful conviction rates. His work has assisted in the recovery and convictions in more than 100 cases involving vehicle theft.

RDM News Wire.