THE Hawks said on Tuesday that they were not aware of any arrest warrant issued against ANC’s Secretary General Ace Magashule.
Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi disputed the claims in a statement on WhatsApp shortly before midnight on Tuesday.
Mulaudzi described the IOL report detailing the alleged arrest warrant of Magashule as fake news.
“It’s fake news. Maybe there’s another Hawks we are not aware of,” said Mulaudzi.
“The Hawks would like to categorically distance itself from the IOL (media) report regarding the so called impending arrest against Mr Ace Magashule. The DPCI view the report as a malicious intent to undermine the integrity of the organization.”
The Independent Media, citing sources, reported that Magashule will be arrested and charged over an alleged role in the controversial Estina dairy project in the town of Vrede in the Free-State.
The online newspaper also said Magashule confirmed to it over the phone that he was aware of the imminent arrest and that he will address media “at an appropriate time”.
The Estina dairy received public money and was meant to benefit the local community, but prosecutors say funds were illegally diverted to bank accounts of people including Atul Gupta, a wealthy businessman and friend of former President Jacob Zuma.
Magashule, who along with Gupta have denied any wrongdoing, was the premier of the Free State at the time.
His arrest would have important political repercussions, as it could lead to Magashule losing his job as ANC secretary general, a post that puts him in charge of the day-to-day running of the ruling party.
The reports come after a number of high-profile arrests that have been made recently in connection to alleged corruption.
Meanwhile, Magashule’s supporters have threatened war if he was arrested.
The ANC Youth League structures in the Free State and Vhembe region of Limpopo issued statements on Tuesday evening, warning against the arrest of Magashule.
“The ANC Youth League in Vhembe region will mobilise all its sub regions in defense of the ANC SG (Magashule), the same way we will defend all ANC leaders when law enforcement is being applied illogically,” a statement from the region reads.
The region also said that the alleged warrant of arrest ‘issued’ was a political ploy to have Magashule to step aside.
The region added that there was a “faction” within the governing party using state organs to have Magashule arrested.
(COMPILED BY INSIDE POLITICS STAFF)
