Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya announced on Sunday that law enforcement agencies have made significant strides in high-profile cases, with over 600 individuals arrested between April and June of this year.
The arrests mark a critical milestone in ongoing efforts to combat corruption and criminal behaviour in South Africa.
Among the high-profile arrests was former sports, arts, and culture minister Zizi Kodwa, who was detained in June on state capture charges.
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Kodwa allegedly received gratifications amounting to more than R1.6 million for exerting his influence over multi-million government IT tenders.
Another notable arrest took place in April when former National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula handed herself over to the police. She stands accused of receiving R2.3 million in bribes and gratifications from a defence contractor during her tenure as defence minister.
The arrests were primarily concentrated in Gauteng province, with 167 suspects, while KwaZulu-Natal had 114, North West had 92, Mpumalanga had 57, and Eastern Cape had 56 suspects.
During these operations, commendable amounts of illegal items were seized, including 68 firearms and 1,797 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, three clandestine drug laboratories were dismantled in Gauteng, with a combined value of R16,179,300 seized.
Lebeya emphasized the importance of these arrests in reinforcing the message that no one is above the law.
The comprehensive efforts of law enforcement agencies highlight a steadfast commitment to justice and the eradication of high-level corruption in South Africa.
These recent actions indicate an encouraging trajectory in holding influential figures accountable and maintaining the integrity of governmental operations.
