Premier Oscar Mabuyane wants to stop the Hawks from investigating him

Mabuyane has since petitioned the province’s high court, seeking an order stopping the Hawks from investigating him and demanding they provide him with all information that makes up the basis of their investigation.

Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane says he suspects that suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule may be behind him being investigated.

According to Mabuyane, he was subjected to questioning by a Hawks official from the Free State in August.

In court papers,Mabuyane says, he felt like he was an accused – even though there were no specific allegations against him and, thus, he has no case to answer to. The main concern Mabuyae according to the papers submitted is the involvement of Free State Hawks, meanwhile, the reported crimes alleged to have taken place in the Eastern Cape.

“I specifically asked the DPCI [Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation] members whether there was a connection with Mr Magashule. They confirmed that they also tried to interview Mr Magashule in light of the public statement that he had been making, but he had declined to make a statement,” Mabuyane submits to the court.

“They never denied Mr Magashule’s influence in their decision to commence an investigation. I indicated that it was not a coincidence that the case was being investigated by the Free State Office of the DPCI after Mr Magashule, who was premier of the Free State province and chairperson of the ANC in that province, had made allegations against me.”

Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane last week released a report implicating Mabuyane in mal-administration in relation to a R1.1 million which was intended for the late Winnie Madikizela Mandela’s memorial service.

According to Mkhwebane, Mabuyane unduly benefitted about R450.000

Mabuyane says the Hawks have “enormous power” and that should they recommend he be charged he stands to lose his positions as premier and ANC provincial chairman.

Mabuyane further believes that the Hawks have refused to be clear about the basis of their investigation against him as doing so would prove that “this is a fishing expedition”.