Gauteng Leads in Crime, Hawks Clamp Down on High-Profile Cases

In a revealing press briefing held in Pretoria, Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya, head of the Hawks, emphasized the ongoing prominence of Gauteng province as South Africa’s chief region for serious crimes. Despite concerted efforts by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), the region remains a hotbed for criminal activity.

With an intensive drive to tackle high-profile cases, the DPCI has shown commendable progress, particularly with the arrest of 167 suspects in Gauteng in the first quarter of the 2024/2025 fiscal year. These efforts are not only restraining common crimes but also extend to critically scrutinizing corruption at high levels of government and business.

The spotlight was cast on the notable case involving former government minister Zizi Kodwa and EOH Group's Jehan MacKay. Accused of facilitating kickbacks for government contracts, both parties are out on bail and are set to present their representation in court by September 2024.

Lebeya also mentioned the entanglement of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party’s senior leader, Visvin Reddy, in legal woes due to charges of incitement to public violence, stirring the pot of political tension.

Crimes endangering state security were also addressed by Lebeya, citing the conviction of Elrico Kaizer Kasper whose careless online remarks concerning an assassination threat to President Cyril Ramaphosa were taken seriously by the Hawks.

Moreover, the Hawks have been actively engaging with increased incidents of police killings, interpreting these as direct assaults on state authority. With 21 officers lost and ongoing arrests, the DPCI underscores the severity of attacking law enforcement.

The DPCI's holistic approach to combating serious crimes has included operations against corruption, fraud, money laundering, and other offenses endangering essential state infrastructure.

Lieutenant-General Lebeya concluded by emphasizing the need for sustained commitment and collaborative efforts in confronting national priority offenses. He reassured the public of the Hawks' determined response to these challenges, signaling an ongoing battle against crime in the heart of South Africa.