Hawks to investigate Malema
South Africa's specialised crime-fighting unit, the Hawks, are set to investigate criminal charges against Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko said on Tuesday.
Briefing journalists in Parliament, along with police top brass, Nhleko said Malema's comment on Al Jazeera at the weekend that the South African government would be removed by the "barrel of a gun" by the opposition once its patience had run out was "reckless", "inflammatory", and had the potential of "plunging the country into chaos".
"The matter is now being investigated by the Hawks," he said.
The charges against Malema were laid at the Hillbrow police station by the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
"A due process of investigation is to follow," Nhleko said.
"We need to show responsibility and we need to refrain from using genuine grievances that are afflicting various communities to drive narrow political agendas that have potential to destabilise the country." - ANA