Ipid to defend against ‘Hawks interference’ in high court

The Independent Investigative Police Directorate (Ipid), the watchdog body meant to oversee the police and ensure cops don’t commit crimes or corruption, says it will be opposing the police’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) in court over what it alleges is a continuation of interference and abuse of power.

The two organisations have been at loggerheads for some time, with Gauteng Hawks Head Major-General Prince Mokotedi going so far as to lay a string of major charges, including espionage and high treason, against Ipid head Robert McBride and three others.

In a statement released by Ipid spokesman Moses Dlamini, Ipid says the latest matter relates to the post of section head of labour relations that was advertised at the “SAPS Limpopo Provincial office where a suitable candidate was nominated by the panel”.

“Later, the chairperson, Major General Morakaladi, instructed the secretary of the panel to change the name of the preferred candidate and replaced it with the person who was number two. Panel members were approached a few days later to sign the changed recommendations with a new candidate of the chairperson’s choice.

“The panel members refused but were allegedly threatened by the chairperson and they eventually signed and reported the matter.”

Dlamini said computers had been seized and “taken to the experts for analysis to extract the initial report that was created to prove the corruption of altering the documents”.

However, the statement continues, “the Hawks are challenging the search and seizure in the Polokwane high court on the basis that they need the computers to work and that the warrant is defective”.

The hearing has been set down for Thursday and Ipid will be opposing the application.

“Our view is that this action by the Hawks is confirmation of abuse of power – we investigate as empowered by legislation and they try and interfere with investigations.”