Hawks - The African Mirror

Oct

2020

Change the law to prevent politicians and families from benefiting from state tenders

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH Africa’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has recommended that the law must be changed to make it illegal for politicians and their immediate families to benefit from state tenders. The SIU has also suggested that, once the legislative changes have been made, intentional non-compliance should be a criminal offence. The SIU is at the heart of a co-ordinated crackdown by the South African government against fraud and corruption in the billions spent on measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It works with the Hawks, an elite investigations unit, the National Prosecuting Authority and the Auditor General’s office.…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

More arrests loom as South Africa’s COVID billions are probed

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER AS South Africa’s crackdown on COVID-19 corruption gains steam, it has emerged that a staggering 67% of the R15-billion spent by the government on personal protective equipment (PPE) is suspicious and now the subject of high-level investigations. SA’s law enforcement agencies, brought together by President Cyril Ramaphosa to co-ordinate their investigations into COVID-19 related fraud and corruption, have revealed to the country’s parliament the true extent of the suspected graft and disclosed that more arrests would be made, some as early as tomorrow. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the Hawks - the elite crime busters - and…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

South Africa Hawks police not aware of imminent arrest of ANC’s Magashule

NEWS

SOUTH African elite police unit Hawks said it was not aware of any arrest warrant for African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Ace Magashule, following media reports his arrest was imminent. "The Hawks would like to categorically distance itself from the IOL (media) report regarding the so-called impending arrest against Mr Ace Magashule," Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi said in a statement on WhatsApp shortly before midnight Tuesday. The Hawks "view the report as a malicious intent to undermine the integrity of the organization". The Independent Media, citing sources, reported that Magashule will be arrested and charged over an alleged role in…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Top ANC politician granted R30 000 bail and vows to prove his innocence

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER VINCENT Smith, who has become the first high profile ANC politician to be arrested for corruption related to the state capture inquiry, has vowed to prove his innocence. Smith (60) was arrested and appeared in Special Commercial Crimes Court in Palmridge, outside Johannesburg, where he was charged with corruption. He was granted bail of R30 000, ordered to hand in his passport and not to interfere with state witnesses. He is a former MP and ex-chairperson of Parliament’s Committee on Correctional Services. The charges relate to amounts totalling R660 000 that he received from Bosasa In an…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Businessman nabbed in first arrest in probe into state capture

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER BARELY 24 hours after he disclosed that he had donated millions to the ANC from profits made from a questionable R255-million, the man suspected to be kingpin in what has come to be known as the “asbestos scandal” has been arrested. Edwin Sodi, the CEO of Blackhead Engineering, was among five individuals arrested by the Hawks, South Africa’s elite investigation unit, in connection with suspected fraud and corruption around the project. Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi said the suspects are scheduled to appear in Bloemfontein on Friday." Sodi told the Zondo Commission, investigating fraud, corruption and capture of…