Ex-Hawks boss Ntlemeza 'humiliated' by Fikile Mbalula

Fired Hawks boss Lieutenant-General Berning Ntlemeza claims that if the High Court upholds his dismissal, it would be condoning illegal behaviour by Police Minister Fikile Mbalula.

Lawyers for Ntlemeza, whose axing was enforced by the Pretoria High Court last month, argued yesterday in the same court that their client had suffered immeasurable reputational harm and had been humiliated by what Mbalula said about him in public when he announced his dismissal.

Ntlemeza has been found by several judges to be dishonourable and unfit to hold office in relation to lying under oath.

Ntlemeza is attempting to interdict Mbalula from firing him pending the outcome of an appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal. His appeal is to be heard on June 2.

• Shoddy paperwork sees Ntlemeza case removed from the rollHawks boss Berning Ntlemeza had his case before the Pretoria High Court removed from the roll this morning.

Ntlemeza, who is still on full pay, has had to return all his work equipment, including cellphones and a state car, after his axing. His lawyer, Nceba Dukada, argued that the moment his client lodged an appeal, last month's court order, which enforced his dismissal, had to be suspended.

"Ntlemeza must only prove he has filed an appeal. When he does this, the entire enforcement order is suspended."

He said Mbalula had been acting illegally, "daily, hourly and every second of the day" by dismissing Ntlemeza.

"The rights of Ntlemeza have been violated daily since he lodged his appeal.

• Court 'had no right to dump Ntlemeza'Suspended Hawks boss Berning Ntlemeza has felt inadequate and lacks self-esteem since the Pretoria High Court ordered his removal from office.

"Mbalula's conduct must be stopped immediately," said Dukada. "It will be a sad situation if the matter is struck off the roll and if this matter is not deemed by the court to be urgent."

Mbalula's lawyer, advocate Nazeer Cassim, replied that Ntlemeza was lucky he was still being paid, given that he had been found to be "not fit" to hold office by five judges and that he had been found to be dishonourable.

Judge Sheila Mphahlele will hand down her judgment today.