Hawks boss denies political pressure

Hawks boss Berning Ntlemeza says he is not under political pressure to do his job and maintains that the directorate of priority crime investigation remains independent.

He was addressing parliament's police portfolio committee on Wednesday on the unit's annual report. However, in the wake of Tuesday's announcement of a summons being issued to Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, he faced several questions regarding political pressure.

"There is no political pressure on me. I'm just doing my job without fear or favour or being influenced by any person," Ntlemeza said.

"No person outside can tell me what to do."

Freedom Front Plus MP Pieter Groenewald asked whether, like in other high-profile cases such as the late Jackie Selebi case, there had been communication between Ntlemeza and President Jacob Zuma about the Gordhan matter before the announcement was made.

"There was no communication between myself and the president. I investigate and when I finish investigating, I take it to the NPA," he said.

But Groenewald questioned why, given the "huge implications" of the Gordhan summons, this had not been done.

But ANC MP Leonard Ramatlakane attempted to block the question, saying: "The decision to prosecute or not prosecute is taken by the minister of justice."

He was backed up by his colleague Angie Molebatsi who said Gordhan should not be viewed "as a minister or a member of cabinet, he is a citizen of this country".

Acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane, however, told the committee that National Director for Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams had indicated that he had approached Justice Minister Michael Masutha about the decision and he would have been able to engage Zuma.

Justice Department's Mthunzi Mhaga said the minister, as the cabinet member responsible for the administration of justice "duly informed the president" after being informed of the decision by the NDPP.