By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) have found that claims made by businessman Tokyo Sexwale about the White Spiritual Boy Trust are “unsubstantiated”.
Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya says the unit has not been able to find any evidence to back up Sexwale’s claims about a White Spiritual Boy Trust.
In 2021, Sexwale claimed the fund had offered billions of rands to assist the country in the fight against Covid-19 and the establishment of free higher education.
He told a press conference that money from the fund, which was owned by a group of powerful families was stolen and moved out of the country.
Lebeya briefed the media in Tshwane on Friday to provide an update on some of the successes achieved by the Hawks during the fourth quarter.
“Colleagues you’re encouraged to go and read for yourselves, so that when you come and engage on questions you come to understand what is this Spiritual White Boy Trust or several names that may be coming and the different accounts that have been listed there. All that we are saying at this stage is that we have filed as unsubstantiated. If there is substance that is found at a later stage it means that we can still pursue it. But at this stage, it has been unsubstantiated.”
He said the matter has now been concluded.
Lebeya also confirmed that the Hawks are investigating charges of extortion and bribery laid by suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane against three parliamentary MPs.
“We are investigating the complaint that has been lodged by the public protector with regards to the allegations of corruption. There are certain investigations that we are pursuing, [we’ve] worked with prosecutors and approached the court to get certain authorities to do certain things.
“This is a new matter and we have to systematically search for the truth, which is the signs that we deploy when we conduct the investigation,” Lebeya said.
Lebeya said during the fourth quarter, the Hawks also arrested at least 701 suspects.
“Two hundred and eighty-four accused persons were convicted and sentenced which earned them a title of being a criminal. Thirty-eight suspects were arrested by the Hawks for cash-in-transit (CIT) heists while four were convicted and sentenced during this quarter.
In addition, 30 suspects were arrested for CIT related offences. Thirteen suspects were arrested by the DPCI for murder of police officials while six were convicted and sentenced to share ten life imprisonment terms, he said.
Lebeya only highlighted 32 cases which represent 3% of the 985 successful cases of the Hawks.
He said his department would continue to execute its work without fear, favour or prejudice, as the law dictates.