Ipid to probe Jonas’s claims against Hawks
Specialised unit tried to quash bribe case against Guptas, commission told
THE Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) will probe claims made by former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas at the Zondo Commission of inquiry into state capture against the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation – the Hawks.
This was confirmed by Ipid spokesperson Moses Dlamini after the portfolio committee on police called for an urgent probe of the damning allegations against members of the Hawks.
“I have confirmed it with the relevant people. We are going to investigate (them),” Dlamini said.
On Friday, Jonas told the Zondo Commission how the Hawks attempted to quash a case opened by DA public representatives into the Guptas, after it was reported that the Guptas had tried to bribe him into accepting a ministerial post.
Jonas said Major-General Zinhle Mnonopi told him that “they (Hawks) wanted to kill the case”, and that she gave him a prepared statement to sign.
Committee chairperson Francois Beukman said he noted with serious concern the allegations made against the Hawks at the hearings.
Beukman added that it was imperative that members of the Hawks, especially the high-ranking officers, should act without fear or favour to uphold the law, and that any dereliction of their duty should be properly investigated.
He said any member of the public who could provide evidence of serious and unlawful infringement of his or her rights caused by a Hawks investigation could bring a complaint to the judge overseeing the specialised unit.
Beukman said while the committee acknowledged that proceedings were still under way, that testimony would still be subjected to cross-examination and that findings would be made by the commission, any serious allegations against the Hawks should be urgently investigated by the relevant authorities.
“They should lead the fight against corruption, and any allegations that comprise their role should be subjected to independent investigation,” he said.
“The committee’s view is that the head of the Hawks, Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya should also, as a matter of priority, launch an internal inquiry into those allegations,” Beukman added.
On Friday, Lebeya also noted with serious concern Jonas’s claims.