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By Jonisayi Maromo 
7h ago
Pretoria: National Spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation [Hawks]Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi has resigned, the elite crime-fighting unit of the South African Police Service announced on Monday night.
“Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi submitted his resignation this morning to National Chief of the Priority Crime Investigation Directorate, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya for his consideration,” said Hawks spokesman Col. Katlego Mogale. .
“The national chief [Lebeya] He considered resignation. Reasons for resigning [are] cited as personal. The national holder has accepted the resignation with immediate effect ”.
The opposition Democratic Alliance has been calling for Mulaudzi’s head, after his foundation, a non-profit organization (NPO) he chairs in Limpopo province, received R3 million from the embattled National Lottery Commission (NLC).
The NLC and Mulaudzi have been the subject of a backlash recently, with the district attorney questioning the commission’s relationship with Mulaudzi as the Hawks are investigating some of NLC’s grants.
The Hangwani Mulaudzi Foundation pocketed R3m from the commission to establish a sports center for the Mashamba community in July last year.
The center would serve more than 100 children and would have features such as a bathroom block, an office, and a changing room. It will also have a well with taps and fencing.
The Star newspaper reported last month that the Covid-19 pandemic has since derailed work to prepare the facilities.
A frustrated Mulaudzi told the publication that political leaders have put his life in danger with their agendas.
“I don’t know what kind of message they are trying to send. I have to observe countless occasions when I am driving or walking because people think I have case files and there is nothing like that. “
Mulaudzi went on to clarify that he does not deal directly with investigations at the Hawks.
“I don’t have that authority in Hawks. I do not influence any investigation. I only communicate the information that is given to me. “
The spokesman said he is not the only director of the foundation.
“It is not just my base. It is an NPO and there are other people who have partnered with me to run this foundation, ”he said.
At that time, The Star asked him to comment on why the foundation uses his name, Mulaudzi said: “That was done because my name is popular, simple.”
However, Mat Cuthbert of the district attorney indicated that there was a clear conflict of interest that has the potential to derail the entire investigation into large-scale looting at the NLC.
He argued that the funding is sounding the alarm bells considering that the Department of Commerce, Industry and Competition (DTIC) had recently turned over evidence related to the Denzhe primary care scandal to the Hawks for investigation.
This comes after the NPO mysteriously obtained a whopping R7.5m from the commission which is now being investigated by Hawks.
Mulaudzi reiterated that he is not aware of the investigation procedures and that he is not concerned as a spokesperson.
He said the foundation, which was established in 2017, was meant to bring skills to children in his community.
The commission’s spokesman, Ndivhuho Mafela, said the foundation applied for and was approved for a grant from NLC in the sports and recreation sector.
Mafela also refused to participate in the alleged conflict of interest against Mulaudzi.
“The NLC does not fund individuals, but registered NGOs / NPOs working for the public good,” he said.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Devereaux Morkel
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