Hawks to Make More State Capture Arrests; Bheki Cele Cleared Again

In a notable briefing on the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation's (DPCI) performance for the third quarter of the 2024/2025 fiscal year, Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya outlined significant progress in tackling a range of serious crimes including state capture, with the promise of additional arrests. Significantly, the former SA police minister, Bheki Cele, finds himself clear of charges once more despite renewed investigations into past allegations.

Lebeya announced impressive enforcement figures, with 1,409 suspects nabbed and brought before courts from October through December 2024 across South Africa. Delving into regional data, the North West led in arrests largely due to a sweeping clampdown on illegal mining operations. In terms of the nature of crimes, the Hawks engaged heavily against corruption, organized crime, and cybercrime, among other offenses.

Underlining a focused approach towards state capture—a high plague of political and corporate malfeasance in South Africa—Lebeya’s team reported robust activity. The state capture national investigation task force amassed 2,241 statements relating to 53 cases, reflecting the overarching recommendations from various inquiries into the state’s capture phenomena over the years. Thirty-eight individuals have been rounded up in these investigations, some previously linked to the notorious Bosasa case.

Among notable arrests was that of former South African Airways board member Yakhe Kwinana, relating to alleged undisclosed conflicts of interest in a major SAA contract. Her case proceeds, with further court actions set for March 2025.

Despite these advancements, questions still linger over the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) capacity and resolve in handling such high-stake cases, given past setbacks including the dismissal of cases against prominent executives due to prosecutorial delays. NPA leadership admits struggles with manpower and complex case architectures, yet remains committed to justice.

In parallel to these updates, an old scandal involving Bheki Cele was revisited. The NPA has decided, after multiple reviews, not to proceed with prosecution over a controversial R500 million police HQ leasing deal Cele allegedly orchestrated a decade earlier. This decision follows a pattern of previous rulings favoring Cele’s non-prosecution, despite past findings of procedural misconduct by then public protector Thuli Madonsela.

Thus, as the Hawks forge ahead with their broad anti-crime mandate, the specter of state capture continues to demand major enforcement attention, promising more high-profile arrests, while the shadow of unresolved past controversies like that involving Cele persists.