National Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda calls Mashaba’s claims of meddling, nonsense

An urgent request by the mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, that police watchdog Ipid should investigate the doings of the head of the Hawks, Berning Ntlemeza, has allegedly been met with disregard by the Hawks.

Mashaba alleges that Ntlemeza is meddling in investigations handed over by the City’s anti-corruption unit, headed by former Gauteng Hawks head Shadrack Sibiya, to the Hawks.

National Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said on Tuesday 11 April that Mashaba’s allegations that Ntlemeza was meddling in investigations ‘is pure nonsense’. He added, “Mashaba should focus his energy on his municipality and leave the Hawks to do its job.”

The Hawks are already investigating and arresting suspects within the City, Netshiunda added. The anti-corruption unit has been responsible for numerous investigations into corruption and arrests by both the South African Police and Hawks. Those yielding substantial evidence are also referred to both for further investigation.

But Mashaba said a number of cases where investigations were completed but no further action had been taken and warrants of arrests have been obtained but not executed, supports the meddling allegations. He claimed the success of referred cases from the City has also caught the attention of Ntlemeza.

“This includes an instruction made to all members involved in such investigations to no longer pursue such cases, nor arrest suspects. Further, threats of surveillance and monitoring were made against members who investigate our matters,” Mashaba alleged.

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