‘Hawks general didn’t take bribe’

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) denies claims that the head of the Hawks in the Northern Cape helped a British millionaire target a business rival in exchange for two property deals.

An investigation by Channel 4 News in the UK broadcast on Wednesday suggested that Brexit financier Arron Banks and an associate‚ Kobus Coetzee‚ tried to bribe General Kholekile Galawe.

Banks and Coetzee purportedly offered Galawe financial gratification in the form of millions of rands in property investments.

This‚ according to Channel 4 News‚ was done in a bid to discredit and pursue a criminal case against Banks’s former business partner Chris Kimber.

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the allegations against Galawe were baseless.

“We have consulted the general and we found that there is no basis on the fact that there was a representation that was made to the national head regarding this issue.”

Mulaudzi said Galawe was seeking legal advice.

“We have also requested any tangible evidence suggesting any corrupt interactions or corrupt conduct by the general.”

The relationship between Banks and Kimber soured in 2017 after Kimber accused Banks of travelling to Russia to raise money for his mines.

Kimber claimed that the money was spent on the Brexit campaign.

The investigation said that Banks initially planned to give Galawe a stake in a call centre business in Durban.

He told Channel 4 he visited the call centre twice, but told them he was more interested in the property business.

According to Channel 4‚ Banks then discussed two potential property deals with Galawe – one in Mthatha and another in Port Elizabeth.

Mulaudzi said if the channel was willing to share information, the Hawks was willing to investigate further.