South Africa: Why Will the Hawks Not Investigate SARS Second-in-Command?

analysis

President Jacob Zuma finally paid back R7,814,155 for the non-security upgrades at his Nkandla home. It is due to independent and credible institutions, the Office of the Public Protector and the Constitutional Court, that the president was made to reimburse the state for undue benefits. But other institutions continue to be compromised by scandal and political agendas, allowing for impunity and cover-ups. Suspicious deposits into SARS chief officer Jonas Makwakwa and his partner's accounts have been flagged as possible proceeds of crime or money laundering. But the Hawks deny they are investigating the matter despite two of their units being seized with the evidence for several months. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.

It seems quite surprising that South African Revenue Service (SARS) second-in-charge Jonas Makwakwa has not yet been summoned to the Hawks' offices for a "warning statement" or even a friendly chat about the alleged series of deposits into his bank account and that of his common-law wife Kelly-Ann Elskie, who is also employed at the revenue service. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation - the Hawks - has had evidence, including bank statements and photographs, in its possession for over four months. This was part of a report by a...

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