Hawks deny investigating SAA chairwoman
The Hawks on Wednesday denied that they were investigating South African Airways chairwoman Dudu Myeni as part of a probe into the running of the loss-making airline, which included allegations of sabotage that could jeopardise passenger safety.
The head of the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation or Hawks head Lieutenant General Mthandazo Ntlemeza dismissed reports that Myeni was being investigated as grossly inaccurate.
Instead, the unit said it was to look into allegations ranging from theft, tender fraud and irregular route closures to sabotage and illicit information gathering.
“To set the record straight the Hawks are not investigating the Chairperson, moreover since we began with the investigations last year she has been very instrumental in providing us with information regarding this important probe. It is seemingly evident that there are certain media who are reporting untruths and we want to distance ourselves from such gross reporting,” he said.
Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the elite unit was probing “illegal activities at SAA which amongst others include to uncover the truth on the alleged theft, fraud and corruption involving contracts, agreements, tenders, procurement and irregular closure of SAA routes in Senegal, India and Beijing”.
Mulaudzi said it was furthermore looking into allegations of illegal information gathering at the airline and sabotage that could endanger the safety of its passengers.
“The investigation is also set to scrutinize allegations of sabotage, irregular use of private investigators to spy and solicit confidential information with a view to undermine operations and safety of passengers.”
Myeni last year became a highly controversial figure after she sought to renegotiate a lease agreement with Airbus.
It drew a stern warning from National Treasury that this could lead to penalties that neither the airline nor the country could afford and in late December newly appointed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan ordered her to sign off on the agreement reached mid-year.
Photo: Gallo