The Hawks have rubbished as “ridiculous and utter garbage” claims that their boss‚ Lieutenant General Mthandazo Ntlemeza‚ is a former member of the apartheid security branch. Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said Ntlemeza had learnt “with shock and disgust the continued reckless utterances levelled against him by the Young Communist League (YCL)”.Choosing Ntlemeza as Hawks chief no mistakeI don’t know about you, but the thought of losing my teeth — especially my incisors — scares the hell out of me. The YCL has alleged that the National Head of the Hawks was an apartheid security branch member and should be sacked from the position.Hawks to SACP: Prove your claims about Ntlemeza in courtThe Hawks on Thursday challenged the Communists to prove that Lieutenant-General Mthandazo Ntlemeza’s “stewardship…reflects politically motivated‚ factional and private agendas”. “It is ridiculous and utter garbage to even suggest that Lieutenant General Ntlemeza was in one point of his professional life associated with the so called special branch or security branch. We are also aware that these irresponsible statements are not attributed to the National Head only but also senior members of the South African Police Service (SAPS)‚” said Mulaudzi.“The YCL as a progressive youth organisation should be assisting the HAWKS but instead they are clearly forming part of the pessimists who continue to fuel untruths to the South African public‚” he added.“To put it on record‚ Lieutenant General Ntlemeza was never a member of the security branch in the former Transkei‚ Gauteng and Limpopo where he worked or participated in any activities of the illegal activities of the apartheid police.“As far as he is concerned‚ Lieutenant General Ntlemeza is very proud of his career and also content of what he has achieved in his long career in the SAPS. His accomplishments and credentials speak for themselves‚” Mulaudzi asserted.He said the statements by the YCL were very dangerous taking into consideration the sensitivity of South Africa’s history where many innocent people had lost their lives while others were still searching for their long lost loved ones.“The YCL should be ashamed of themselves and should apologise for their insensitivity to the Lieutenant General Ntlemeza and the South African public for their fabrications and bringing the security of this beautiful country into disrepute.“The Hawks will not be deterred by cheap politicking and Lieutenant General Ntlemeza has thanked the South African public for their ongoing support in reporting crime daily.“Members of the HAWKS should not be intimidated by power or influence. The HAWKS independence of ought not to be compromised by ill-advised remarks. Instead‚ members of the HAWKS should continue to work vigorously without fear or favour to investigate any case reported against any person in this country no matter how influential his or her position‚” Mutlaudzi said. ..