The DA Shadow MEC for Community Safety, Kate Lorimer has called for the immediate removal of Gauteng Hawks head, Prince Mokotedi.
According to Lorimer, Mokotedi is at risk of being lured into corrupt practices because of his bad credit record.
She shared documents with media showing that Mokotedi has two court judgments against him for outstanding debt with two different banks. The first judgment is for the amount of R1 002 000 for a bond and R100 480 for a credit card, as well as another one with a different bank for R9 559 on a credit card.
If proper procedures had been followed before his appointment five months ago, Lorimer believes the corruption risk could have been easily avoided. “For a high-profile job like his, a security clearance was supposed to have been issued, but that has not been the case because he is protected.”
Lorimer highlighted that with these judgments against Mokotedi, he would never qualify for security clearance as they would make him a high risk for future corrupt or criminal activity.
In response to Lorimer’s accusations, spokesperson for the Hawks, Brigadier Hangwani Muladzi said, “General Mokotedi has been cracking the whip ever since he got his promotion. It is clear that these are attempts to derail him from doing his job.”
He said the Hawks was not into politics but their job was to fight crime. “The DA knows very well there are processes to follow before you are issued with a security clearance. Why target him alone, there are thousands of people in influential positions that do not have security clearances and nothing is being said about them,” Mulauzi said without mentioning those high-profile people he was referring to.
Regarding the release of Mokotedi’s personal finances, Mulaudzi labelled it as an attempt at character assassination. “How did they manage to access such confidential information? This is criminal… we are fully behind Mokotedi and the changes he is making in Gauteng.”
Nonetheless, Lorimer said Mokotedi did not seem to be a man of integrity and should not be in a position of responsibility. She has called on the Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko to stop dragging his heels, do his job and terminate Mokotedi’s employment.
“If he doesn’t, we should perhaps assume he is protecting Mokotedi,” Lorimer concluded.
