Senior cops ‘tried to block graft probes’

Former KZN Hawks head Johan Booysen testifies at Zondo Commission

FORMER KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Johan Booysen yesterday revealed how on numerous occasions, senior SAPS officials and others were intent on blocking investigations into corruption linked to other senior cops and controversial Durban businessman Thoshan Panday.

Booysen took the stand at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture yesterday, and is the second witness who is lifting the lid on dubious activities by law enforcement agencies following the testimony of the former head of the Independent Police Investigate Directorate, Robert McBride.

The saga involves a Hawks probe into an alleged irregular and fraudulent R60million deal between Panday and the KZN SAPS for the procurement of mattresses, blankets, television sets and accommodation for police officers for the 2010 World Cup.

Booysen said he had initially tried to hide his investigation from then provincial police commissioner Mmamonnye Ngobeni when he was alerted of the irregularities by the police provincial head of financial services, Lawrence Kemp, but said she soon found out and instructed him to halt it. He also said that Ngobeni had contacted him, Kemp and his investigators and invited them to a meeting at which she asked questions about the probe.

“It was quite an uncomfortable meeting. Ngobeni aimed her frustrations towards General Kemp.

“She accused him of being more concerned about finances and money than the lives of the citizens,” Booysen said.

“The more Kemp tried to explain to her, the more she interrupted him and admonished him.”

He said that some of the claims made by Panday, 99% of which were for accommodating police officers, were either inflated or false.

The commission heard how Panday footed a bill of R30000 for the birthday bash of Ngobeni’s husband later in the same month.

Booysen also stated that Ngobeni had “illegally” taken the case and given it to another senior police officer, Major-General Bongani Ntanjana, and instructed him to finish it within two weeks.

He said he had agreed with the then national head of the Hawks, Anwa Dramat, that the probe had to continue.

Bheki Cele, now the police minister and the national police commissioner at the time, also called Booysen and assured him of his support, he said.

“I received a call from him (Cele) and he enquired from me as to the interference that I was experiencing with the investigation. I briefly told him. He said to me I should not entertain any interference and that I should continue the investigation and that the reporting lines should be the way that is defined in the police structures,” Booysen said.

The commission also heard how former president Jacob Zuma’s son, Edward, tried unsuccessfully to persuade the Hawks to unfreeze the remaining R15m of the payment to Panday as he wanted his cut.

Booysen said Edward Zuma went as far as visiting his office where he pleaded for Panday’s alleged loot to be paid.

“He started talking about the R15m which I had frozen. He asked if it was possible for me to unfreeze the money. I said what is your interest in this money, and he said he was a silent partner with Thoshan Panday and that he was not getting his dividends because I had frozen the money,” Booysen said.

He said he told him that he would not unfreeze the money as that would have been a corrupt act.