Former Crime Intelligence (CI) Brigadier Tiyani Hlungwani told the ad hoc committee that he had become a target after refusing to approve the procurement of a “grabber” (surveillance device) in December 2017, which he believes was intended to fund the ANC National Conference.

Hlungwani, the former Section Head of Finance and Admin Services at the Secret Service Account in SAPS, was speaking under questioning by MK Party MP Siboniso Nomvalo.

Hlungwani’s testimony focused on what he described as an orchestrated campaign against him, which he believes began immediately after he refused to approve the purchase.

He confirmed that his troubles with senior officials started shortly after the ANC National Conference in December 2017.

“Before that, there were no issues, I was fine,” Hlungwani said. “After I refused, that’s when everything started to go wrong. Immediately after that, I became a target.”

The committee heard Hlungwani testify that General Ngcobo had given him a transfer notice on 18 December 2017, the same day the ANC conference concluded.

He suggested that this was in retaliation for his refusal to authorise the purchase of the R45 million  “grabber.”

“General Ngcobo gave me a notice of transfer immediately after the conference, and the attacks began from there, after attack, after attack,” he said.

Hlungwani also discussed a separate matter involving an alleged fraudulent criminal complaint lodged by Major General Obed Nemutanzhela, the former CFO of the Secret Service Account, in September 2017.

This was reportedly related to financial misconduct, but Hlungwani denied being involved, stating he had not been a suspect at first. “Initially, I was not even a suspect,” he said.

He revealed that Counterintelligence had investigated and ruled him out as a potential wrongdoer.

However, Hlungwani emphasised that this case was not part of the broader campaign against him.

“The real issues began after the ANC conference,” he added.

According to Hlungwani, he had been cleared in the investigation related to the September 2017 complaint, but was subsequently implicated in a broader investigation into the so-called “grabber” procurement.

Hlungwani went on to elaborate that he had been drawn into a conspiracy to procure the equipment illegally, which he believes was intended to fund the ANC conference.

Hlungwani indicated that intelligence operatives, including former National Commissioner General Khehla Sithole, had been involved in inflating prices for the equipment.

“A portion of this amount was not going to purchase the ‘grabber,'” Hlungwani said. “It was going to be taken for ANC conference affairs.”

Hlungwani implicated senior figures in the ANC, including former Minister Fikile Mbalula, who he claimed was involved in the plot.

“General Sithole’s statement implicates Mbalula. He says he was approached by Mbalula to inflate prices for the ANC conference,” Hlungwani said.

The claim was tied to allegations that Mbalula sought inflated figures for the procurement in order to funnel money to an unnamed faction of the ANC.

Nomvalo also questioned Hlungwani on allegations of financial mismanagement within SAPS, particularly surrounding a company referred to in his testimony as “Company Z.”

Hlungwani claimed that the company had stolen millions from the Secret Service account. When asked about the specifics, he said the money had been misappropriated by a woman with close ties to the SAPS finances, though he declined to reveal her identity.

“I can’t say for sure that services were rendered because the ‘grabber’ is illegal itself,” Hlungwani said, responding to a question about a seven-million-rand payment that had been made for services allegedly rendered in connection with the procurement.

“The services were never quantified to me, but Lt General Lebeoana Tsumane said we needed to pay for the services already rendered,” he said.

He confirmed that the figure was closer to seven million rather than the previously mentioned nine million.

Hlungwani’s claims were met with skepticism from the committee, with Nomvalo urging him to provide solid evidence to back up his statements.

“We want proof, not just words,” Nomvalo said. “If you’re here to assist this investigation, you need to provide tangible evidence, not just tell us that investigations are taking place elsewhere.”

Hlungwani confirmed that the matter was being investigated by the relevant authorities but insisted that his information should be considered as part of the ongoing inquiry.

“This matter is being investigated, and I implore you to follow up on the investigation,” he said. 

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za 

IOL Politics 

Source link