The Eastern Cape Hawks heaped accolades on their super sleuths this weekend for a year of hard work that has seen several trials make national headlines.
The officers received recognition from the very top at the Hawks Prestige Awards 2018 held at the Premier Regent Hotel in East London on Friday.
While many winners were crowned in different categories, the night belonged to the team of Captain Raymond Buys, Warrant Officer Nkosinathi Mpepho and Warrant Officer Xolisile Hlulani for arresting 13 suspects in one of the biggest drug trafficking busts in the province.
The team arrested 13 suspected drug lords from across the country including Berlin butcher Simphiwe “Chizama” Qwememe, confiscating cash in excess of R300,000 and assets worth millions in the process.
Their investigation, titled Project Damage, won Best Project Investigating Team award, despite the fact that the trial is still under way.
Giving a citation, Eastern Cape acting Hawks commander Brigadier Go-Paul Govender said: “By its name it has equally caused untold damage to a syndicate that has robbed us of hundreds of lives with the scourge of drug abuse. It was a syndicate that was running the Eastern Cape into the ground. Make no mistake, these syndicate leaders are high class, high profile business people.”
Qwememe was arrested at his Rocklands farm in Berlin on January 25 with then police minister Fikile Mbalula and national police commissioner Khehla Sitole flying down to the scene of the crime.
He is accused of masterminding the national network. Four of the others arrested with him were from the Eastern Cape.
Govender lauded the team.
“They went an extra mile over a dedicated period together with our crime intelligence. They broke the camel’s back, they broke the neck, the centre and they broke the hip.”
Human trafficking investigation Project Team, which arrested Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, scooped second prize.
Led by Captain Brenda Magwangqana, this case is also still before the courts.
Govender lauded Magwangqana’s team for “bringing honour and dignity to the rights of women”.
“This case has dealt a bitter blow [to trafficking], nationally and internationally. This is the team that relentlessly criss-crossed the countryside.
“This is the team that has brought brought honour and glory to the human trafficking investigation.”
Omotoso and his co-accused, Lusanda Solani and Zukiswa Sitho, face 97 charges including racketeering, sexual assault and rape.
The case will be back in the Port Elizabeth high court next Tuesday.
The trial has gripped the nation’s attention, including that of President Cyril Ramaphosa, police minister Bheki Cele and Sitole, who have all acknowledged the Hawks’ efforts in arresting Omotoso.
Hawks investigator Captain Rhynhardt Swanepoel, who arrested Port Elizabeth wife killer Christopher Panayiotou, got his conviction a year ago. He won in the category of Best Serious Organised Crime Investigation...