Hawks slammed over EC heists

The Hawks investigative unit in Mthatha should stop “playing politics” and being “outspoken” and focus instead on putting an end to cash heists.

These were the sentiments of the office of the premier portfolio committee chair Sicelo Gqobana at a sitting of the Bhisho legislature on Wednesday, where the Hawks, Special Investigative Unit and the National Prosecuting Authority were hauled before the committee to answer on the “slow pace” of ongoing investigations and cases implicating government officials.

Addressing provincial Hawks commander Brigadier Go-Paul Govender, Gqobana said: “Mthatha is the hotspot of cash heists and I see that the people in the unit responsible for fighting the gangs are outspoken and playing politics instead of doing their job.”

This could be seen as Gqobana taking a swipe at Hawks Mthatha investigating unit commander Colonel Loyiso Mdingi, who believes he is being targeted because he is the Popcru provincial chair.

In March, Hawks acting national head Lieutenant-General Yolisa Matakata told Mdingi to decide if he was an investigator or politician.

Last week, the committee heard that more than R20m was taken by robbers in 41 cash-in-transit heists in the province. Mthatha topped the list with 20 heists, in which R15m was taken. East London was second highest with 12 and Port Elizabeth next with nine.