Hawks witch-hunts smack of police-state antics
4 April 2016
The DA once again calls for the Hawks to be disbanded in light of its political capture and the Scorpions reinstated to its rightful place under a strong and independent National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) as the key corruption-busting unit in our country.
Recent examples of witch hunts under its auspices include the suspicious arrest of forensic investigator, Paul O’Sullivan, and the investigation of the Public Protector, Adv Thuli Madonsela, and Hawks bosses Anwa Dramat, Johan Booysen and Shadrack Sibiya.
When probed about the nature of their investigations that seem motivated by settling political scores, the unlawfully installed Hawks boss, Berning Ntlemeza, either obfuscates in answering critical questions as to the motives of his investigations or denies them completely.
In the case of the Public Protector, Mr Ntlemeza has stated unequivocally that there is not an investigation afoot against Adv Madonsela. Yet the DA is in possession of a letter that confirms that she is currently the subject of a baseless Hawks investigation for perjury. One can only draw the conclusion that following her investigations of high-ranking ANC members that she has been targeted for no other reason than discharging her mandate without fear, favour or prejudice.
Additionally, EFF Leader Julius Malema was stopped while driving in Johannesburg in an intimidatory operation for no reason at all at the weekend. This too is no doubt due to his remarks and intentions following the Constitutional Court judgment against President Zuma on Thursday last week.
Just last month it was reported that the Helen Suzman Foundation was robbed. This was suspiciously soon after Freedom Under Law and the Helen Suzman Foundation launched a review application into the unlawful appointment and fitness for office of Mr Ntlemeza.
The Hawks have become dogged by political interference and are now seemingly used to conduct political witch hunts. It is no surprise that civil society organisations are this week scheduled to make arguments to have Ntlemeza’s appointment set aside as irrational. This will be the first step in ensuring that the Hawks are disbanded and the Scorpions are re-established.
Since the disbandment of the corruption-busting Scorpions, arrest and conviction rates by its replacement, the Hawks, have dropped at an alarming rate. Specifically, a reply to a parliamentary question in October last year revealed that since the disbandment of the Scorpions in January 2009, there has been a 60% decline in arrests and an astounding 83% plummet in conviction rates in the last six years of the Hawks’ existence.
This is clear evidence that the disbandment of the Scorpions was fatally flawed in the first place because it has allowed for pervasive undue political influence.
The Hawks are now used to settle political scores and to intimidate those who would speak the truth about corruption to those in power. Given the current political environment, it is more imperative than ever that the body responsible for fighting corruption be free of political interference and is able to carry out its work without fear or favour.
The DA will continue to stand firm in its position that the Hawks be disbanded and that the Scorpions be re-established under the NPA, which itself must be independent and free from political interference, so that we can start making meaningful strides in the fight against corruption.
Issued by Zakhele Mbhele, DA Shadow Minister of Police, 4 April 2016
