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The Portfolio Committee on Police has welcomed today’s swift decision by Police Minister Mr Fikile Mbalula to appoint Lieutenant-General Yolisa Matakata as acting national head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI/Hawks) and wishes her well in her new role.

“We are glad that the Minister acted with speed in avoiding any vacuum in the leadership of the DPCI by urgently appointing a tried and tested investigator to temporarily hold the reigns. We have confidence that Lieutenant-General Matakata will add value in the fight against organised crime and corruption,” said Committee Chairperson Mr Francois Beukman.

The Minister’s decision comes after yesterday’s Pretoria High Court decision dismissing Major-General Berning Ntlemeza’s leave to appeal a previous court order, which had ruled his appointment unlawful and invalid. In March this year, the North Gauteng High Court judgement declared the appointment of Major-General Ntlemeza as head of the DPCI/Hawks unlawful and invalid. The matter was originally brought before the court by Freedom under Law and the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF). Subsequently, Major-General Ntlemeza filed an application for leave to appeal, but was unsuccessful.

Mr Beukman said he hopes the Minister will do his best to ensure expeditious and thorough processes to appoint a permanent national head of the DPCI, in order to bolster the fight against organised crime and corruption, and thereby improve public confidence in the DPCI.

The Committee will monitor developments in this regard and will engage the Minister further on this matter during upcoming Committee meetings.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of theChairpersonof the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Francois Beukman