Jonas now a target of Hawks graft probe

After unsuccessfully pursuing Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, the Hawks have set their sights on his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas. City Press says it has established that the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State (Cats) unit is gathering evidence that could implicate Jonas in a case of corruption involving a supplier to SAA’s aviation maintenance division, SAA Technical (Saat). The case is being investigated by Cats unit head Brigadier Nyameka Xaba, who also investigated the case against Gordhan and his former SARS colleagues, Ivan Pillay and Johan van Loggerenberg. Three months ago, the Hawks submitted their docket containing the case of fraud, defeating the ends of justice and contravening the Provision of Communication-Related Information Act against Gordhan to National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams, who has yet to decide whether to prosecute. The Hawks’ investigation into Jonas and others began late last year. City Press quotes four ‘highly placed sources’, who all say the Hawks are investigating Jonas for allegedly introducing US aircraft maintenance and engineering company AAR Corp to one of Saat’s board members, requesting that he ‘look after them’. The complaint, which the newspaper says it has seen, was laid by an unnamed Saat board member. ‘Another person of interest in the investigation is SAA chairperson Dudu Myeni, who has been contacted for her statement,’ said a Hawks officer close to the investigation. ‘I am aware of the allegations against Jonas. I am the one who is always painted as corrupt and I will see what will happen now,’ she is quoted as saying. City Press says Myeni confirmed she would provide the Hawks with a statement.