Drug wars between SAPS and Hawks worry government, says Ramaphosa

Deputy President Ramaphosa has told parliament that government takes allegations of drug tug-of-war between SAPS and Hawks at OR Tambo International Airport very seriously.

He, however, as leader of government business, has no resources to carry out investigations on this matter.

He told MPs “relevant units of SAPS and Hawks must investigate the allegations”. He said, as the matter was of national importance, a report emanating from such investigations could possible be given to the “minister of the president” for processing and decision-making.

When asked whether there had been any efforts taken to ensure that tensions precipitated by former minister of police Nathi Nhleko between SAPS and Ipid had been dealt with, Ramaphosa said the matter was brought to the executive’s attention, and meetings were held to “smooth ways of working between the two”.

The deputy president was reminded that in the past, Nhleko only brought the acting police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane along to parliament and excluded Ipid boss Robert McBride.

He said the reason the intervention was never publicised was because they did not want to see the matter populating front pages of news news publications.