Pressure Mounts For Hawks, SIU To Effect More High-Profile ‘State Capture’ Arrests

CHARLES MOLELE

THE Hawks finally showed some teeth this week when the country’s elite crime-busting unit arrested seven high-profile individuals linked to the controversial R255m Free State asbestos project.

The crime fighting unit, in a joint operation with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), led the dramatic arrests of businessman Edwin Sodi, former high-ranking government officials, a former mayor and a former MEC.

And in a surprise turn of events, former ANC MP Vincent Smith handed himself over to the police in Alberton on Thursday, appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, and was granted R 30 000 bail, for allegedly receiving bribes from Bosasa, now known as African Global Operations.

The arrests appear to be in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pledge to stamp out corruption. 

But opposition parties are not persuaded that the dramatic arrests will be a turning point in