Hawks deny investigating acting police commissioner Puleng Dimpane

Puleng Dimpane

Pretoria – The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, has dismissed reports that it is investigating South Africa’s Acting National Commissioner of Police Puleng Dimpane, saying the claims are false.

In a statement issued on Monday, the DPCI said it wanted to “place on record the correct facts” following media reports alleging that it had launched an investigation into the acting police chief.

“The DPCI confirms that it is not investigating the Acting National Commissioner,” the statement said.

According to the Hawks, the complaint it received relates to an existing matter already being handled by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).

The Citizen reported that the development stems from a criminal complaint filed by Public Interest SA, which alleges breaches of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) in connection with the controversial R360 million Medicare24 contract awarded in Tshwane.

Public Interest SA alleges that Dimpane, who served as the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) chief financial officer at the time, may have neglected her legal duties by allowing a R48 million payment to the service provider before procurement irregularities had been addressed.

The DPCI said, in line with established procedures and to avoid duplication of investigations, the complaint was referred to IDAC for further consideration. It added that the complainant had been informed of the referral.

The Hawks stressed that referring the complaint did not amount to the registration of a criminal case or the initiation of an investigation by the DPCI.

“It was merely referred to the IDAC because of the existing investigation,” the statement said.

The DPCI said any further enquiries regarding the processing of the complaint should be directed to IDAC.

The clarification comes after reports suggested that the Hawks had opened an investigation into the acting national commissioner, prompting the DPCI to publicly deny the claims.

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