Hawks’ investigation reportedly at NPA

It's been almost a year since the Hawks' raid of George Municipality, on

23 April 2018, when officials of the Police Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation confiscated laptops, cellphones and boxes full of documents. At the time, the Minister of Local Government, Anton Bredell, welcomed the intervention and said the Hawks were acting upon his request, looking into alleged irregularities in the municipality.

Since the raid, the public has been left guessing about what the investigation entails and about the identity of the officials or politicians at the centre of the investigation.

James-Brent Styan, spokesperson for Bredell, said their office is as frustrated as everyone else. "We are waiting for the Hawks. There are some municipalities where we've been waiting for almost six years, such as Beaufort West. However, it is out of our hands," he said.

Styan said to their knowledge the case has been handed to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). "This is all we know," he said. "Minister Bredell has always said if there are people doing things they shouldn't do, they have to bear the consequences. We are also waiting for the outcome of the investigation of Kannaland Municipality."

Comment from the Hawks' spokesperson, Captain Philani Nkwalase, as well as the spokesperson of the NPA, Eric Ntabazalila, is being awaited.