The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is demanding answers after it came to light that a senior member of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) has been removed from a high-profile corruption investigation and replaced with a junior official.
The party officially enquired about the matter from the Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia.
The investigation relates to allegations of corruption, amounting to approximately R269 million, linked to the Free State Premier, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae.
According to media reports, the Hawks officer in question was removed from the investigation as he himself is the subject of an internal probe. The nature of the probe has not been officially disclosed.
What is alarming, though, is that a junior official has now been appointed to lead the high-profile corruption investigation – in light of the President reiterating that the police must be held accountable and that corruption must be eradicated from government.
In the Freedom Front Plus’s view, the circumstances surrounding this replacement are seriously suspect. In addition, changing investigating officers halfway through the case leaves a cloud of uncertainty hanging over its transparency and credibility.
When the senior police officers responsible for leading sensitive and serious investigations are not above suspicion themselves, it raises serious questions about the effectiveness and credibility of such investigations.
The Freedom Front Plus wants to know whether the Minister is aware of these changes, and demands comprehensive feedback regarding the reasons for the replacement and the composition of the investigating team.
The public is entitled to answers, particularly when it comes to large amounts of taxpayers’ money and possible high-level corruption.
