‘We are apolitical’: Hawks insist as they probe high treason cases against AfriForum’s US activities

National head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya has dispelled insinuations that the ongoing investigations against individuals from lobby groups AfriForum and Solidarity are driven by political considerations.

IOL has previously reported that the Hawks are investigating four high treason dockets, after cases were opened in response to allegations that misleading information about South Africa's Expropriation Act was distributed in the United States.

The cases have been opened by different individuals from different political parties, including the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, led by former president Jacob Zuma.

On Tuesday, Lebeya told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that claims that the ongoing investigations were driven by political considerations were baseless.

“For us we are apolitical. We do not entertain political standpoints. What we deal with is complaints. It is not a political party that is actually taking an oath, it is an individual that may belong to a particular party or the like, who will be taking an oath,” said Lebeya.

“Ours is to systematically search for the truth. We do not align ourselves with any political parties. That is the position that we take. That we do our work without fear, favour or prejudice. We do not want to prejudice anyone,” he said.

“If the facts do not show that a crime has been committed, that is what the prosecutor will say. From us, we do our work objectively in a transparent manner. We do not want to be indicating who the suspects are, a position we have taken from the beginning, but we are investigating the allegations.”

He said the Hawks would not be drawn to pronounce the names of the individuals being investigated, or the organisations they represent.

Lebeya further stated that the Hawks are working with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the ongoing investigation.

In recent months, AfriForum and Solidarity are organisations that have been accused of treason by political parties and citizens alike.

The organisations have also criticised the Expropriation Act and recently visited Washington where they engaged members of President Donald Trump's administration. 

The Solidarity Movement delegation was led by Chairperson Flip Buys and Head of International Liaison, Jaco Kleynhans.

AfriForum's CEO, Kallie Kriel, and Solidarity's CEO, Dr Dirk Hermann, both represented their organisations. The organisation stated that it aimed to expose human rights crimes against Afrikaners, as well as the ANC's irresponsible policies and weak governance in the nation.

A request was made for the US to "expand its recognition of Afrikaners as a cultural community and to increase assistance to include support for the establishment of cultural infrastructure that enables them to live freely, safely, and prosperously in southern Africa".

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL