Axed Hawks boss Lieutenant-General Berning Ntlemeza will report for duty this morning as a man in charge, his lawyer has said.
This despite the latest warning by Police Minister Fikile Mbalula that Ntlemeza should stay at home.
Mbalula's spokesman Vuyo Mhaga reiterated yesterday that Ntlemeza had been legally sacked as Hawks head and should stay at home.
"We're not expecting him [to report for duty]. Remember, the decision of the minister was informed by the ruling of the high court. It's within the law," said Mhaga.
But Ntlemeza's lawyer Comfort Ngidi told Sowetan his client was legally entitled to return to work.
This comes two weeks after the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ordered Ntlemeza to immediately vacate his office as head of the Hawks.
It ruled against his application for leave to appeal its March judgment, which set aside his appointment.
That judgment was in favour of the Helen Suzman Foundation and Freedom Under Law, which argued that Ntlemeza was "dishonest" and therefore unfit to hold the job.
Mbalula moved swiftly to remove Ntlemeza last week. He appointed Lieutenant-General Yolisa Matakata as acting Hawks head.
Ntlemeza, through Ngidi, insisted throughout last week that he would be back at work today. He threatened to go back to the office last week Tuesday, leading to reporters camping outside the Hawks' headquarters in Pretoria. But he never showed up.
Ngidi maintained that nothing barred Ntlemeza from returning to office once his application for leave to appeal was filed at the Supreme Court of Appeal.
"Papers have been filed and General Ntlemeza will be at work on Monday," Ngidi said, adding that the court in Bloemfontein received the affidavits on Thursday.
Asked what would be the basis for Ntlemeza to return to office, Ngidi said: "It's the operation of the law. The law says if you appeal, you remain at your job. In terms of our legal system the status quo remains until the appeal is finalised. The decision of the high court is suspended until the appeal is heard. Therefore, General Ntlemeza is back at work."
Ntlemeza due to go to work today
Axed Hawks boss Lieutenant-General Berning Ntlemeza will report for duty this morning as a man in charge, his lawyer has said.
This despite the latest warning by Police Minister Fikile Mbalula that Ntlemeza should stay at home.
Mbalula's spokesman Vuyo Mhaga reiterated yesterday that Ntlemeza had been legally sacked as Hawks head and should stay at home.
"We're not expecting him [to report for duty]. Remember, the decision of the minister was informed by the ruling of the high court. It's within the law," said Mhaga.
But Ntlemeza's lawyer Comfort Ngidi told Sowetan his client was legally entitled to return to work.
This comes two weeks after the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ordered Ntlemeza to immediately vacate his office as head of the Hawks.
It ruled against his application for leave to appeal its March judgment, which set aside his appointment.
That judgment was in favour of the Helen Suzman Foundation and Freedom Under Law, which argued that Ntlemeza was "dishonest" and therefore unfit to hold the job.
Mbalula moved swiftly to remove Ntlemeza last week. He appointed Lieutenant-General Yolisa Matakata as acting Hawks head.
Ntlemeza, through Ngidi, insisted throughout last week that he would be back at work today. He threatened to go back to the office last week Tuesday, leading to reporters camping outside the Hawks' headquarters in Pretoria. But he never showed up.
Ngidi maintained that nothing barred Ntlemeza from returning to office once his application for leave to appeal was filed at the Supreme Court of Appeal.
"Papers have been filed and General Ntlemeza will be at work on Monday," Ngidi said, adding that the court in Bloemfontein received the affidavits on Thursday.
Asked what would be the basis for Ntlemeza to return to office, Ngidi said: "It's the operation of the law. The law says if you appeal, you remain at your job. In terms of our legal system the status quo remains until the appeal is finalised. The decision of the high court is suspended until the appeal is heard. Therefore, General Ntlemeza is back at work."
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