Latest news with #DirectorateforPriorityCrimeInvestigation
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Can a new leader elevate the Hawks, help SA mount a more effective response to serious crime?
To effectively tackle serious crime, South Africa's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation requires a strong leadership team. The process to appoint a new head of the Hawks – officially South Africa's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation – is under way. This key criminal justice appointment should receive broad public attention. Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya, who headed the Hawks from 2018, retired on 30 May. The Hawks' deputy head, Lieutenant-General Siphesihle Nkosi, is currently the acting head. Under the South African Police Service (SAPS) Act, the appointment is made by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, with concurrence by the Cabinet. It is not clear how long the new appointment process will take. In early June, Mchunu withdrew the initial advertisement, indicating that the time frame for applications would be extended to find the best possible candidate. Against the backdrop of high levels of serious crime in South Africa, what are the prospects for this specialised unit? Could a new head help the country mount a more effective response to serious crime? A high-performing Hawks unit is crucial to tackling organised crime, financial crime and corruption, which are the focus of its mandate. Most of these crimes have cyber-forensic elements, and some have complex international dimensions. The global intergovernmental body, the Financial Action Task Force, requires South Africa to prove its ability to prosecute money laundering, illicit financial flows and terror financing. The Hawks must provide specialised investigation services to get these cases to court. During his time as Hawks head, Lebeya reported publicly each quarter on the directorate's successes. For the January to March 2025 period, he indicated that the unit had made arrests for various crimes, seized firearms, shut down drug laboratories and secured convictions against 239 persons. While there have been achievements, external observers have highlighted the Hawks' shortcomings, including a lack of skills. These hinder its ability to conduct complex investigations such as the 'proactive identification' of money laundering networks. The unit has never received sufficient budget funding to reduce its vacancy rate below 50%. Last week, Ian Cameron, chair of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police, lamented how long it was taking for the Hawks to complete an investigation into corruption at the SAPS training centre in Philippi, Cape Town. When Mchunu announced the extension of the Hawks head application period, Cameron emphasised the need to make the 'right appointment'. Lebeya may have wanted to turn things around. But like his National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) colleague Shamila Batohi, he has had little room for manoeuvre. Turning criminal justice organisations around requires more than simply appointing good heads. A programme of strategic institutional strengthening must be directed by a skilled executive team that has political backing and financial support. The Hawks' history is intertwined with State Capture. Its predecessor, the Directorate for Special Operations, or Scorpions, was closed in 2009 by supporters of former president Jacob Zuma as a way to neutralise its investigations against Zuma and others. Following the Hawks' establishment, Zuma used his power over senior appointments to manipulate and undermine the unit and other criminal justice agencies. Following legal challenges, the Constitutional Court ruled in 2011 and again in 2014 that the state was obligated to establish an effective independent anti-corruption agency. The judgments said the Hawks should perform this role and that legislation must be amended to strengthen its independence. Notwithstanding these rulings, the process and criteria for senior leadership appointments remain challenging throughout the criminal justice system – including for the SAPS, NPA, Independent Police Investigative Directorate and the Hawks. While constitutional provisions entrench executive influence over certain senior criminal justice appointments, the extent to which this can be used to weaken such agencies must be curtailed. A key requirement is that independent professional panels run merit-based, competitive and transparent selection processes, and make recommendations. Rather than considering how to strengthen the Hawks, debate in Parliament and elsewhere has focused on setting up alternative structures to investigate corruption. At this point, it's unclear what responsibility the Hawks would retain in this regard. Either way, there is more than enough for the specialised unit to work on. South Africa must establish strategic centres for fighting organised and financial crime. Priority must be given to taking down networks that support the use of assassinations, particularly the killing of whistle-blowers, political leaders and community activists. The country also needs answers on where illegal guns are coming from and how to stop the supply. The new Hawks head should boost staff confidence by leading vigorous and independent investigations of priority crimes that demonstrate the unit's vital role in South Africa. This will require a strategic leadership team to galvanise public support and build the Hawks' capacity to work on complex crimes. The team should establish the Hawks as an employer of choice and a highly skilled law enforcement agency. The new head should also contribute to the overall strategic leadership of South Africa's multi-agency system for investigating organised crime, financial crime and corruption. This should include advocating for a crime intelligence and analysis apparatus aligned with the realities of crime in the 21st century. DM
The South African
4 days ago
- The South African
Two more suspects arrested for corruption at Home Affairs in KZN
An additional two suspects have been arrested for corruption in the Department of Home Affairs in the ongoing operation that began last week in KwaZulu-Natal. On Saturday, 14 June, five suspects, including an ex-Home Affairs official, were arrested by the Serious Corruption Investigation component of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (also known as The Hawks), which is based in Pretoria. Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the execution operation emanates from a complaint from the Department of Home Affairs relating to the issuance of fraudulent passports to undocumented foreign nationals. Mogale said the allegations reported serious offences include corruption, fraud, and contraventions of the Identification Act and Immigration Act that took place between February 2020 and July 2023, wherein a group of South African citizens allegedly facilitated the fraudulent acquisition of South African passports by foreign nationals at DHA offices in Durban, specifically the Commercial Street branch. 'These unlawful activities took place outside of regular business hours, including evenings, weekends and public holidays, when the Home Affairs offices were officially closed. 'Preliminary investigations by the DHA confirmed that the criminal activities were indeed conducted on off hours where the local citizens offered R300 to R1 000 in exchange for their cooperation especially at Home Affairs offices in Isipingo, Durban Central and Eshowe resulting in a case being opened for investigation by Serious Corruption Investigation,' Mogale explained. According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, so far, a total of 38 individuals have been previously arrested on the matter, between September 2022 to date of which seven are Home Affairs officials whilst 31 are private citizens. A total of 24 individuals of whom four are Home Affairs officials have been convicted and sentenced to a combined sentence of 310 years imprisonment. The other five suspects who were arrested by the Serious Corruption Investigation on 14 June in various parts of Durban will face charges of corruption, fraud, contravention of the Immigration Act; and contravention of the Identification Act. The suspects are expected to appear at the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday, 17 June. The DPCI has not ruled out the possibility of more suspects being arrested. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
4 days ago
- The South African
Woman hands herself in after killing EC cop with knobkierrie
The woman claimed that the two had argued the night before. Image: SAPS/Facebook Police have taken a 37-year-old woman into custody in connection with the murder of a 50-year-old off-duty Eastern Cape police officer. According to a media statement by SAPS Provincial Police Spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, the woman allegedly beat the officer with a knobkierrie following an argument. The incident unfolded on Sunday, 15 June 2025, in Khwenxurha near Mooiplaas in the Easter Cape. The victim, who was not on duty at the time, was found unresponsive the following morning. WOMAN TURN HERSELF IN AFTER KILLING EC COP The suspect turned herself in to local authorities on Monday 16 June 2025. She claimed that the two had argued the night before and that she discovered him unresponsive the next day. Gantana confirmed that the woman will appear in court soon. Police have handed over the case docket to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) for further investigation. EASTERN CAPE TEEN KILLED BY STEPFATHER A 52-year-old man was arrested on Sunday night, 25 May 2025, for the murder of his 18-year-old stepson, Leewin Solomon, following a domestic dispute in Rosedale, Kariega. According to Eastern Cape police, the incident took place at around 21:28 at a house on Parkiet Street. Police say Solomon and his stepfather got into an argument, during which Solomon allegedly stabbed the older man in the shoulder. The stepfather then drew his firearm and shot Solomon. Paramedics rushed Solomon to the hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. Police recovered a 9mm Glock pistol at the scene and sent it for ballistic testing. The stepfather has been charged with murder and remains in custody. What does this brazen attack say about rising violence and safety? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
7 days ago
- The Citizen
3 police officers found guilty of soliciting a bribe
The KZN Serious Corruption Investigation component of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) secured a conviction in a high-profile corruption matter involving three police officials. The accused, Madoda Mduduzi Mhlongo (56), Siyabonga Herbert Mabhida (51) and Prince Ntsikelelo Shezi (50), who were attached to the Provincial Taxi Violence unit in Durban, were found guilty by the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday. The trio was remanded in custody for sentencing on 19 June. ALSO READ: 3 cops charged for defeating the ends of Justice It was reported that on 13 March 2019, the victim was approached by the three police officials who alleged that they were under pressure from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to arrest two suspects for the murder of key witnesses in a case they were investigating. The officials solicited a bribe of R200 000 from the victim in lieu of preventing the arrests. The trio warned that failure to pay would result in the suspects being arrested that same night. Later that evening, the police officials arrived at one of the suspect's homes, reinforcing the threat. The matter was reported to the Serious Corruption Investigation component's head office. A police operation was authorised in terms of Section 252A of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977), and on 29 March 2019, the three implicated police officials, who were all warrant officers, were arrested after receiving the R200 000. The trio appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 1 April 2019 and were released on R10 000 bail each. Their trial commenced on 1 March 2021 and ran over an extended period until they were found guilty of corruption. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- The Citizen
Eastern Cape councillor arrested for role in businessman kidnapping
The councillor's accomplice, who allegedly carried out the kidnapping, remains in custody. An East London councillor has on Friday been released on R2 000 bail after she was arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a businessman in Dimbiza, Eastern Cape. The 27-year-old woman was arrested and charged for aiding the escape of a man who abducted the 42-year-old hardware store owner on 10 June. Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation's (Hawks) regional spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said the 34-year-old man allegedly forcefully shoved the business owner into a car belonging to the owner before speeding off. Kidnapper intercepted The East London-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation kidnapping task team was alerted of the incident and attended to the matter, which the Hawks say was a shameless kidnapping act. 'The kidnapping task team of the Hawks, in collaboration with the East London Flying Squad and the Dog Unit (K9), acted swiftly to vital information received from alert community members; the team then followed the vehicle of interest,' Fumba said. ALSO READ: Kamogelo Baukudi: Missing teen needed for ID parade, case postponed 'In a well-coordinated tactical action, the team intercepted the vehicle and arrested the male suspect on the spot,' he added. Councillor linked to kidnapping Fumba said further investigations pointed to the involvement of the local councillor, who allegedly tried to help the suspect. 'Both accused appeared before the Dimbaza Magistrate's Court on 12 June 2025.' While the councillor was granted bail, the male suspect remains in custody and is expected to appear in court on 19 June for a formal bail application. Officers commended The provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, commended the collaborative effort and decisive action of the law enforcement officers. 'The arrest demonstrates the power of coordinated policing and critical role communities play in tackling serious crime,' Ngwenya said. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga ANC councillors granted bail in R500k corruption case
