Dramat forced out over Nkandla – friend's claim

An ally of Anwa Dramat has claimed the former Hawks chief did not leave the unit voluntarily as claimed by police chief Riah Phiyega and Minister Nathi Nhleko, but was forced out over the Nkandla issue. A Beeld report quotes the unnamed ally – said to be a long-time friend of Dramat – as saying Dramat demanded to be allowed to investigate sensitive matters such as the Nkandla case. Dramat apparently requested the Nkanda file in December. He did it based on the Constitutional Court judgment of November about the independence of the Hawks. Dramat believed that judgment gave the Hawks the power to take on any corruption matter reported to the police. 'Literally two days later he was summoned to the office of Nhleko in Pretoria. Phiyega sat next to the Minister and they handed him a letter of intention to suspend him,' the source is quoted as saying. Senior ANC members also called in Dramat to say the ruling party no longer wanted him to head Hawks, the ally claims. Pressure by the ANC and Nhleko as well as death threats made him give up and draft the letter on 24 December saying he was 'willing' to leave.