Hawks deny top officer behind break-in at NPA offices

THE Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), the specialised organised crime-fighting body better known as the Hawks, denied reports suggesting one of its senior officers was involved in a break-in at the Gauteng North offices of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Pretoria.

Eyewitness News reported that the two prosecutors whose offices were burgled were working on the case involving Brigadier Nyameka Xaba, accused by South African Revenue Service (Sars) employee Vlok Symington of holding him against his will during a Hawks probe into Pravin Gordhan, the former finance minister.

“The Eyewitness report is baseless. Such accusations should never have been given so much credence. The report is an attempt to damage Brigadier Xaba reputation based on uncorroborated facts,” said Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi.

EWN also reported that Xaba was seen at the NPA offices last week and had met the two prosecutors. “Brigadier Xaba and his team recently honoured an invitation from a prosecutor at the NPA offices to deliberate on an unrelated case, as opposed to what Eyewitness News has reported,” Mulaudzi said, defending Xaba.

The Hawks said Xaba, the head of the crimes against the state unit, was on leave, but consulting lawyers on the “false information against him”. – ANA