By Everson Luhanga
During a briefing on the second quarter crime figures in Pretoria, Hawks head Advocate Godfrey Lebeya said the top five offences contributing the highest number of arrests were 173 people for fraud, 172 for precious metals and diamond theft, 52 for narcotics, 48 for cash-in-transit robberies and 37 for corruption.
Lebeya said cash-in-transit heists continue to negatively impact the economy of the country and that the directorate for priority crime investigations, with private organisations, continue to strengthen the fight against these crimes.
Lebeya said during these arrests the Hawks seized exhibits including precious metals and diamonds, endangered species, vehicles, cash, firearms, ammunition, counterfeit goods, explosives and electronic devices worth R92.4 million.
He said out of 244 convictions, fraud contributed the highest number at 75 — with 62 South Africans, six foreign nationals, and seven companies found guilty.
“In terms of nationalities relating to conviction and sentences, 193 were South Africans while 84 were foreign nationals.
“Foreign included 48 Zimbabweans, seven Chinese people, seven Mozambicans, four Nigerians, three Tanzanians, three Basotho, three Pakistanis, three Ethiopians, two Bangladeshis, two Zambians, one Canadian and aone Ghanaian,” he said.
Lebeya said they attracted hefty sentences, including orders to pay R11.65 million in total to SARS.
He also added that they are investigating 716 SARS-related cases. “There are 223 pending in court, 263 are under investigation while 230 are pending a decision by the National Prosecuting Authority,” he said.
Advocate Lebeya highlighted some of the high-profile cases the Hawks cracked, mentioning an operation where 19 suspected criminals (17 males and 2 women) were shot and killed in Makhado, Limpopo.
“During August 2023, an organised criminal group planned to commit a heist in Makhado. The Hawks members received information about the plot and combed the scene. Eleven firearms with ammunition and an AK47, an R1, R5, and a pistol were found, as well as primed explosives plus detonators, boosters, lead cords and raw explosives,” he said.
Another case involved a man arrested for R330-million worth of illicit tobacco in East London in June 2022.
