Latest news with #DirectorateforPriorityCrimeInvestigation
IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
Dating scam: Men in court after unsuspecting woman lost R3 million to online lover
Three accused men, Gabriel Okori, Justice Motsamai Khanyapa and a third accused Thabo Derrick Mnguni will appear in court facing charges of fraud after a woman was defrauded of R3 million. Image: Hawks Three men are on Tuesday scheduled to appear in court after they were arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, for defrauding a woman of her R3 million in a dating scam. Last week, IOL reported that a third suspect was arrested for an intense scam where an unidentified woman lost R3 million in the name of love, back in 2024. The victim, whose identity is withheld to protect her from victimisation, said she developed an online relationship with a person she believed was a white man called 'Mark Hermanus', whom she had met on Facebook. Gauteng Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela said after exchanging numbers, the woman and the scammer started chatting on WhatsApp, and once they had 'gotten to know each other", the scammer asked her to lend him money to pay the medical bills of his sick son. But these weren't modest medical bills, and the unsuspecting woman eventually parted with R3 million, which she deposited into two bank accounts. After the crime was reported to the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, an investigation ensued and the first suspect, Gabriel Okori, was arrested in Cape Town in October 2024. Okori, a Nigerian national, was in November released on bail of R5,000. Okori has been attending his court appearances on charges of fraud and theft. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading In March, IOL reported that a second suspect, Justice Motsamai Khanyapa, was arrested in connection with the scam. Khanyapa was arrested in Orange Farm, Johannesburg, and he was released on bail of R1,000 by the Pretoria Magistrate's Court. A third suspect, Thabo Derrick Mnguni, was arrested on 23 June. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel The Hawks said all three accused men - Okori, Khanyapa, and Mnguni - will appear on Tuesday before the Pretoria Magistrate's Court. Mnguni is expected to apply for bail. According to the Hawks, the money defrauded from the unsuspecting woman was deposited into the bank accounts of Khanyapa and Mnguni. Meanwhile, head of the Hawks in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, commended the 'meticulous investigation' conducted by the investigating team, and cautioned members of the public to be vigilant and safeguard themselves against such scams. Since last year, IOL has been running the scammed series where several women and men have lost their hard-earned money, including pensions and bank loans, through romance scams. The victims have regrouped and are knocking on different doors, demanding answers. IOL News
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Police officer accused of corruption set to appear in court
An internal investigation flagged the officer of being involved in corrupt activities. A 46-year-old Eastern Cape police officer who allegedly demanded a bribe in order to make 'things easy' for a suspect is expected to make his first appearance in court. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, served a court summons on the officer on Thursday, charging him with corruption. Corruption Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said the alleged corruption occurred when he was stationed at the Humewood Saps. Fumba said an internal investigation identified the officer as being involved in the incident. 'It is alleged that on 2 April 2024, the officer, acting in his capacity as an investigating officer, summoned a male suspect to the station regarding a reported assault case. ALSO READ: Crime Intelligence CFO, co-accused granted bail in burglary cover-up 'Upon the suspect's arrival, the officer allegedly solicited a gratification of R2 500 from the individual, promising that such payment would 'make things easy' and prevent his arrest. The suspect was thereafter allegedly released without any formal charge being laid,' Fumba said. Court Fumba said Ngeni's actions constitute a violation of Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004 (PRECCA), which criminalises the acceptance of gratification by a public officer in exchange for performing or not performing an official act. He is expected to make his first court appearance at the Gqeberha District Court, New Law Courts, on 17 July 2025. The Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, reaffirmed the team's commitment to upholding the rule of law and eliminating unethical conduct within their ranks. 'Corruption has no place in the pursuit of justice, and internal accountability remains one of our foremost priorities,' said Ngwenya. Top cop arrested Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority's Investigating Directorate (ID) has arrested Crime Intelligence boss, Major General Dumisani Khumalo, in connection with a corruption investigation involving R45 million in property deals. Khumalo, who heads Crime Intelligence within the South African Police Service (Saps), was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday following an 'extensive' probe into the alleged unlawful purchase of two luxury properties. A boutique hotel in Pretoria North, worth R22.7 million, and a commercial building in Berea, Durban, valued at R22.8 million, were allegedly purchased without proper ministerial approval. NOW READ: Court halts Lungu's funeral in SA after challenge by Zambian government
The South African
6 days ago
- The South African
Kidnapped Gqeberha woman reunited with family
A 65-year-old woman who was kidnapped outside the Nelson Mandela Bay Fresh Produce Market in Markman over the weekend has been safely reunited with her family. Lindsay Knowlden, who was abducted on Saturday morning, was found alive and unharmed around 21.5km away in Bethelsdorp around midnight on Tuesday night. Family spokesperson John Best confirmed on Wednesday morning that Knowlden had been dropped off on a street where she called out for help. A local family heard her cries and took her in before alerting authorities and her husband. 'She just called out for help, and a family took her in,' said Best. Knowlden and her husband, who is an agent at the produce market, were accosted by armed men in the underground parking area shortly after they arrived for work. During the attack, her husband was assaulted with a firearm, sustaining a laceration to his eye, while Knowlden was forcibly taken in a silver VW Polo. Best confirmed that a ransom was demanded, although he declined to disclose further details due to the sensitive nature of the investigation. The case is currently being investigated by the Hawks, South Africa's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation. At the time of publishing, Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana had not yet provided an official comment. Knowlden reportedly told her family that she had been held by five men. Her doctor has since examined her and confirmed that she is in good physical health. The news of Knowlden's safe return has sparked gratitude among loved ones and residents alike, many of whom followed the case closely since Saturday. While the motive and further details remain unclear, her family has expressed relief and thanks to the community and law enforcement for their support. Further updates from authorities are expected as investigations continue. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Maverick
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Can a new leader elevate the Hawks, help SA mount a more effective response to serious crime?
To effectively tackle serious crime, South Africa's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation requires a strong leadership team. The process to appoint a new head of the Hawks – officially South Africa's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation – is under way. This key criminal justice appointment should receive broad public attention. Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya, who headed the Hawks from 2018, retired on 30 May. The Hawks' deputy head, Lieutenant-General Siphesihle Nkosi, is currently the acting head. Under the South African Police Service (SAPS) Act, the appointment is made by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, with concurrence by the Cabinet. It is not clear how long the new appointment process will take. In early June, Mchunu withdrew the initial advertisement, indicating that the time frame for applications would be extended to find the best possible candidate. Against the backdrop of high levels of serious crime in South Africa, what are the prospects for this specialised unit? Could a new head help the country mount a more effective response to serious crime? A high-performing Hawks unit is crucial to tackling organised crime, financial crime and corruption, which are the focus of its mandate. Most of these crimes have cyber-forensic elements, and some have complex international dimensions. The global intergovernmental body, the Financial Action Task Force, requires South Africa to prove its ability to prosecute money laundering, illicit financial flows and terror financing. The Hawks must provide specialised investigation services to get these cases to court. During his time as Hawks head, Lebeya reported publicly each quarter on the directorate's successes. For the January to March 2025 period, he indicated that the unit had made arrests for various crimes, seized firearms, shut down drug laboratories and secured convictions against 239 persons. While there have been achievements, external observers have highlighted the Hawks' shortcomings, including a lack of skills. These hinder its ability to conduct complex investigations such as the 'proactive identification' of money laundering networks. The unit has never received sufficient budget funding to reduce its vacancy rate below 50%. Last week, Ian Cameron, chair of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police, lamented how long it was taking for the Hawks to complete an investigation into corruption at the SAPS training centre in Philippi, Cape Town. When Mchunu announced the extension of the Hawks head application period, Cameron emphasised the need to make the 'right appointment'. Lebeya may have wanted to turn things around. But like his National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) colleague Shamila Batohi, he has had little room for manoeuvre. Turning criminal justice organisations around requires more than simply appointing good heads. A programme of strategic institutional strengthening must be directed by a skilled executive team that has political backing and financial support. The Hawks' history is intertwined with State Capture. Its predecessor, the Directorate for Special Operations, or Scorpions, was closed in 2009 by supporters of former president Jacob Zuma as a way to neutralise its investigations against Zuma and others. Following the Hawks' establishment, Zuma used his power over senior appointments to manipulate and undermine the unit and other criminal justice agencies. Following legal challenges, the Constitutional Court ruled in 2011 and again in 2014 that the state was obligated to establish an effective independent anti-corruption agency. The judgments said the Hawks should perform this role and that legislation must be amended to strengthen its independence. Notwithstanding these rulings, the process and criteria for senior leadership appointments remain challenging throughout the criminal justice system – including for the SAPS, NPA, Independent Police Investigative Directorate and the Hawks. While constitutional provisions entrench executive influence over certain senior criminal justice appointments, the extent to which this can be used to weaken such agencies must be curtailed. A key requirement is that independent professional panels run merit-based, competitive and transparent selection processes, and make recommendations. Rather than considering how to strengthen the Hawks, debate in Parliament and elsewhere has focused on setting up alternative structures to investigate corruption. At this point, it's unclear what responsibility the Hawks would retain in this regard. Either way, there is more than enough for the specialised unit to work on. South Africa must establish strategic centres for fighting organised and financial crime. Priority must be given to taking down networks that support the use of assassinations, particularly the killing of whistle-blowers, political leaders and community activists. The country also needs answers on where illegal guns are coming from and how to stop the supply. The new Hawks head should boost staff confidence by leading vigorous and independent investigations of priority crimes that demonstrate the unit's vital role in South Africa. This will require a strategic leadership team to galvanise public support and build the Hawks' capacity to work on complex crimes. The team should establish the Hawks as an employer of choice and a highly skilled law enforcement agency. The new head should also contribute to the overall strategic leadership of South Africa's multi-agency system for investigating organised crime, financial crime and corruption. This should include advocating for a crime intelligence and analysis apparatus aligned with the realities of crime in the 21st century. DM
The South African
17-06-2025
- The South African
Two more suspects arrested for corruption at Home Affairs in KZN
An additional two suspects have been arrested for corruption in the Department of Home Affairs in the ongoing operation that began last week in KwaZulu-Natal. On Saturday, 14 June, five suspects, including an ex-Home Affairs official, were arrested by the Serious Corruption Investigation component of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (also known as The Hawks), which is based in Pretoria. Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the execution operation emanates from a complaint from the Department of Home Affairs relating to the issuance of fraudulent passports to undocumented foreign nationals. Mogale said the allegations reported serious offences include corruption, fraud, and contraventions of the Identification Act and Immigration Act that took place between February 2020 and July 2023, wherein a group of South African citizens allegedly facilitated the fraudulent acquisition of South African passports by foreign nationals at DHA offices in Durban, specifically the Commercial Street branch. 'These unlawful activities took place outside of regular business hours, including evenings, weekends and public holidays, when the Home Affairs offices were officially closed. 'Preliminary investigations by the DHA confirmed that the criminal activities were indeed conducted on off hours where the local citizens offered R300 to R1 000 in exchange for their cooperation especially at Home Affairs offices in Isipingo, Durban Central and Eshowe resulting in a case being opened for investigation by Serious Corruption Investigation,' Mogale explained. According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, so far, a total of 38 individuals have been previously arrested on the matter, between September 2022 to date of which seven are Home Affairs officials whilst 31 are private citizens. A total of 24 individuals of whom four are Home Affairs officials have been convicted and sentenced to a combined sentence of 310 years imprisonment. The other five suspects who were arrested by the Serious Corruption Investigation on 14 June in various parts of Durban will face charges of corruption, fraud, contravention of the Immigration Act; and contravention of the Identification Act. The suspects are expected to appear at the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday, 17 June. The DPCI has not ruled out the possibility of more suspects being arrested. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
