Prince Mokotedi, the former head of the Gauteng Hawks, has accused Police Minister Bheki Cele and Hawks National Head General Godfrey Lebeya of conspiring to remove him from office in December 2018. His alleged motive was to prevent the arrest of a prominent Nigerian drug kingpin.
This week, Mokotedi claimed in a statement that his demise was not the result of internal tensions, as had been reported previously. Instead, he suggested that it was the result of an intentional attempt to sabotage a sensitive probe. His team was on the edge of apprehending the high-profile culprit, but then officials of a higher level intervened, according to him.
Mokotedi maintained that “this had nothing to do with mismanagement or misconduct.” “It was in order to protect a foreign citizen whose drug operations have wreaked havoc on entire towns. “I was taken out because I was getting closer to him.”
Mokotedi, who left the Hawks under dubious circumstances, asserts that Cele and Lebeya placed political interests before the cause of justice. He expressed that his expulsion was a betrayal not only to him but also to the South Africans who had placed their trust in law enforcement to fight organised crime.
Mokotedi did not provide the name of the person who he claimed was a drug kingpin; however, he did insinuate that this man has a great deal of influence in the country and is protected by powerful persons. “You must ask yourselves why, years later, this man is still able to walk about freely while our children are being killed by his poison,” he added.
Once again, claims have brought up discussions over political meddling in law enforcement and corruption. Some members of opposition parties have demanded that Cele and Lebeya explain their involvement in the incident, and that an independent investigation be launched.
The Ministry of Police disputed Mokotedi’s assertions as “baseless conspiracy theories,” stating that his resignation was voluntary and that it was related to the bad relationship he had with his coworkers. The Hawks’ office also dismissed his account of events, branding his comments as “an effort to rewrite history.”
On the other hand, anti-crime advocates say that Mokotedi’s allegations cannot be disregarded. The anti-drug crusader Nandi Mhlongo commented, “These accusations bring attention to a more significant issue in South Africa, which is compromised policing.” It would suggest that our leaders are providing support to criminal enterprises at the expense of the nation if this is the case.
There is an increasing number of people making a plea for Parliament’s police portfolio committee to look into Mokotedi’s explosive claims as the pressure continues to increase.
At the moment, the identity of the suspected Nigerian kingpin has not been divulged, but the claims put another shadow over the integrity of South Africa’s police leadership and its war against drug syndicates.