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Mngoma, who is the estranged wife of former cabinet minister Malusi Gigaba, has gone to court to challenge the validity of his arrest.
Norma Gigaba, wife of former Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba at the Pretoria Magistrates Court on September 14, 2020. Image: Abigail Javier / EWN
JOHANNESBURG – Lawyers for Norma Mngoma have accused the Hawks of abandoning their constitutional duty by becoming involved in a domestic matter.
Mngoma, who is the estranged wife of former cabinet minister Malusi Gigaba, has gone to court to challenge the validity of his arrest.
She was arrested by the Hawks in July and her devices confiscated after she allegedly damaged a car that was in her husband’s possession.
But there has been widespread outrage over why the hawks got involved, as their mandate is to investigate serious crimes.
When proceedings began Thursday morning, the intention was to argue the urgency of the matter brought before the court, but the council was then allowed to move on to the merits of the case.
Arguing on behalf of Mngoma, defender Tembeka Ngukaitobi has questioned how a specialized unit like the Hawks has become embroiled in a domestic dispute.
“It’s about restoring the jurisdictional taste of a crucial crime-fighting unit in this country known as the Hawks. If the Hawks are not required by the rule of law to strictly follow their mandate, the potential for abuse is clear. “
He also accused the officers who carried out the arrest of perjury, saying false information was on the arrest warrant.
“Because they had to pretend they were coming from Brooklyn when they knew it was a lie when in reality they were coming from Mpumalanga.”
In her affidavit, Mngoma claimed that the only reason the Hawks were involved in this matter was that her husband is a well-connected political figure.
The ruling on the matter is reserved.
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