PRETORIA – The National Head of the Directorate For Priority Crime Investigation Lieutenant General Mthandazo Ntlemeza is dismayed with media reports by Mr Popo Molefe suggesting the HAWKS are failing to comply with their constitutional and statutory obligations to investigate PRASA matters and to bring the investigations to finality.
It is unfortunate that Mr Molefe decided to raise speculative, misleading and baseless allegations which have painted a false picture of the Hawks and overshadows the tremendous investigations being carried out at Prasa. It is also regrettable that he has chosen to drag the name of the Hawks and in particular Lieutenant General Ntlemeza’s name into the mud whilst he is more than aware that he is not a complainant into the ongoing investigations at PRASA.
For the record, the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Component is currently handling three (3) cases that were opened – two in Hillbrow and one in Brooklyn, respectively. The cases relates to the rewarding and cancellation of contracts at PRASA. One of the cases was withdrawn in court and has been reinstated and is currently with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for a decision.
In all of these cases, Mr Molefe is not a complainant. The DPCI is already in possession of voluminous documents which we are in the process of perusing in preparation for the case planning with the prosecutors. It needs to be noted that perusing the loads of documentation from PRASA is a tedious process which for the sake of completeness cannot be rushed.
Lieutenant General Ntlemeza received correspondence from Mr Molefe, demanding feedback on the investigations with specific timelines. The DPCI respect Mr Molefe concerns, however standard investigation procedures demands that the investigating team deal directly with the complainants.
Disturbingly, the investigations have since been frustrated after the complainants were instructed not to cooperate with the investigation team pending a response of his list of demands from Lieutenant General Ntlemeza.
Despite this setback, the investigations are continuing, the investigating team has identified people as possible witnesses who need to be approached in order to obtain their affidavits. It is regrettable that a picture has been cast of complete ineffectiveness from the side the Hawks whilst the truth is that a lot of ground has been covered despite the attempts to stall the investigations.
As much as there is public interest into the Prasa investigations, we are not at liberty to discuss the details pending the ongoing probe.
