Hawks spread crime-busting wings to sweep clean own unit

THE Hawks appears to be cleaning house to root out corruption in its own unit.

The appearance in court of the elite crime busters’ Limpopo commander on charges of travel and medical aid fraud yesterday is among a string of corruption cases senior members within the unit face.

Major-General Dibero Molatjana appeared in the Pre- toria’s Specialised Commercial Crimes Court after a twoyear investigation into her alleged abuse of state resources, including vehicles and the government medical aid scheme.

According to documents, her son had been transported weekly between the family’s home in Polokwane and Pretoria to attend college allegedly in a police vehicle.

Molatjana also allegedly claimed for travel in her private vehicle when she was transported in a police vehicle from Polokwane to OR Tambo International Airport to fly to Cape Town.

She further faces allegations of using a state vehicle to attend a wedding in Thohoyandou with her secretary and brother, apparently stopping at the Hawks offices in the town to authorise her usage of the vehicle.

Molatjana also stands accused of registering a relative, who had had a stroke and was admitted to a government hospital, on her secretary’s medical aid, which saw the scheme paying out more than R300 000 in claims.

The Hawks brass, suspended and facing an internal hearing, is not the only Hawks commander or senior officer under investigation for fraud, corruption or other crimes. Others include: ý Mpumalanga Hawks boss Major-General Simon Mapyane on falsified travel claims;

ý Durban Hawks Brigadier Simon Madonsela, alleged to have accepted a R28 000 bribe to probe a missing person;

ý Former Mpumalanga captain Welcome Gcabashe, allegedly involved in a R107-million heist and rhino poaching; and

ý Gauteng Hawks head Ma- jor-General Shadrack Sibiya already in court over the alleged rendition of Zimbabwe dissidents to the country – many were murdered.

Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said Molatjana would appear in court again in August.

“This is disappointing, because the very people meant to be stopping corruption are allegedly corrupt,” he said.

Gareth Newham, of the In- stitute for Security Studies, said while it was worrying that so many senior officials within the unit were being arrested, it was also welcome.

“It shows steps are taken to strengthen internal integrity and that police are taking action against their own,” he said. “The moves will be even more welcome if they lead to successful convictions.

“People of integrity should be appointed to the Hawks.”