Lieutenant General Anwa Dramat has officially resigned as head of the Hawks, police commissioner Riah Phiyega said on Tuesday.

Phiyega told Parliament that Dramat and the police have reached a settlement.

"Dramat has confirmed his request to leave the service and we are processing that agreement."

The Mail & Guardian reported last week Phiyega offered Dramat a R3-million golden handshake, in addition to R60 000 per month till he turns 60, should he resign.

The police would not confirm this offer.

On Tuesday Phiyega was still tight-lipped on details of the settlement, only saying it was at Dramat's request and that he was no longer working for the police.

Police Minister Nathi Nhleko suspended Dramat in December last year for his alleged involvement with the rendition of Zimbabweans in 2010.

A day after his suspension, Dramat wrote in a letter to the minister claiming he was being targeted because he was investigating "dockets implicating influential people".

He insinuated he feared for his life, and said he would be "willing" to accept early retirement – as provided for in Act 35 of the Police Act – on condition that the minister lifts his suspension.

Well-placed police sources earlier told Netwerk24 Dramat was being targeted because he refused to let go of the Nkandla investigation.

The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled in January Dramat's suspension was unconstitutional and that he should be reinstated in his post.

Dramat had, however, never returned to office, and his legal representatives have been locked in negotiations with the minister's legal team till now.

DA MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard reacted angrily when Phiyega announced Dramat's resignation to the committee.

"You are ignoring the court order. It was called unlawful and set aside. You have treated the court with absolute and complete contempt," she said.

Phiyega responded that Dramat is no longer in his post "because of what he requested".

Nhleko's spokesperson Musa Zondi said Dramat did no longer wanted to stay in the police.

"The court never ruled that Dramat should be forced to work at SAPS. In his first letter to the minister in December, Dramat indicated his desire to leave. This is just the culmination of that request."

News24.com