/ 4 July 2013

Hawks may probe Kunene, says Economic Freedom Fighters

Listen to the full
Listen to the full

"There are people who have called him from the Hawks, but not officially," Economic Freedom Fighters spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said on Thursday.

"The people said that there could be an investigation [into him]."

Hawks spokesperson Captain Paul Ramaloko said he could not comment on "speculation".

"If Kunene becomes a subject of an investigation, he will be officially informed by the Hawks," he said.

Shivambu said in a statement on Thursday that there had been attempts to intimidate Kunene "through bogus investigations and threats of the Hawks".

The Sunday World reported this week that an investigation was being co-ordinated from the office of Brigadier Lesley McFinn of the Gauteng Hawks.

It reported that the investigation emanated from Kunene's dealings with investors who claimed to have been conned into supporting an application for mining rights by Central Rand Gold.

Misled investors
Kunene was reportedly Central Rand Gold's community liaison, and was instrumental in securing the rights.

Last year, the Sunday Times reported that Central Rand Gold had allegedly misled investors with lucrative tenders, share offers, and directorships in an attempt to secure their backing.

This week Kunene said in a statement published on a politics website he had been warned not to criticise President Jacob Zuma.

Kunene said he had been told he would be "dealt with" after he published an open letter to Zuma last month, saying he was disillusioned with his leadership.

"I got so many calls from people warning me: 'They are going to deal with you'. People know this is a government that 'deals with people'. But is that something we are willing to just accept?"

Economic Freedom Fighters
Kunene confirmed he was joining the Economic Freedom Fighters alongside ousted former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema.

Shivambu said on Thursday Kunene was part of the "fearless young lions in the Free State who rendered the apartheid machinery unworkable and apartheid system ungovernable".

"Even when he was on the wrong side of the law, fighter Kunene was part of efforts that exposed prison corruption and was released a changed man who did motivational talks and ran anti-crime campaigns in many schools across South Africa," he said.

"It is that form of courage and dedication that welcomes him into our ranks of fearless fighters." – Sapa