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Hawks meeting with Free State Premier was not official


Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – While Advocate Navilla Somaru, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions is applying her mind on the decision to prosecute Free State Premier, Joyce “Pretenders” Mathae over corruption allegations, details of the meeting with Hawks officer have now surfaced.

This after Patrick “The Butcher” Phuti, Chief Executive Officer of New Begginings Project alleged to have bankrolled Mathae and her ex husband, Lawrance.

Phuthi was then served with cease and desist letter by Advocate Zola Majavu on behalf of Mathae but Phuti didn’t fold.

This led to Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters and Action SA all opening criminal cases against Mathaes.

As previously reported, on the day the EFF opened a criminal case against Mathaes (11 October 2024), a meeting between Hawks official(name withheld) and Mathae allegedly took place.

According to sources in the Directorate for Priority Crime (HAWKS) the official(name withheld) was asked to go meet Free State Premier.

“Yes he was asked to meet Premier and the meeting lasted over three hours. He didn’t even know the purpose of the meeting.

Up on arrival it’s only then he realized he should not have gone as the Premier wanted to open a criminal case against Phuti for extortion and he outright told her she can’t but only Tau Pele Construction PTY LTD may.”

Tau Pele Construction PTY LTD is the company Phuti mentioned in the leaked WhatsApp that it gave him R2 million to give to Premier while she was MEC for Community Safety, Roads, and Transport and it’s the same company that took over his contract when it was terminated.

Another source said the meeting Mathae had with their colleague was not with the Investigating Officer(name withheld).

“That meeting was not official as it was not with the Investigating Officer(IO).”

We sent questions to Head of Hawks Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya asking him the main purpose of the meeting and he never responded, however Lieutenant General ST Nkosi, who was acting at the time said the Hawks shall act without fear or favor but still not answering specific questions about the meeting.

In November 2024, NPA confirmed the docket has been handed over by the Hawks and once a decision is made, it will be communicated.

The docket was handed on or before 21 November 2024, four months ago.

Editorial: The decision not to mention the name of the officer who alleged met Mathae on the 11 October 2024 is based on the request Hawks made after we published pictures and videos of the officials who were conducting the raid at Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation as that put their lives at risk.

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