The Hawks have arrested a woman who "fabricated" a murder plot involving Deputy President David Mabuza last year.
Spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi says the 31-year-old woman, who masqueraded as Mabuza's niece, was arrested on allegations of fraud, forgery and defeating the ends of justice.
The Hawks launched investigations last year in November after the suspect made startling allegations in an affidavit that Mabuza was, on 5 November 2018, conspiring to murder an ecotourism business person. The alleged incident is purported to have happened in the police precinct of Sandton, which resulted in the opening of a criminal docket at Sandton Police Station.
He said the investigation team needed to interview the complainant as the original statement was not recorded by the police, but it became difficult to trace her as those who interacted with her were also unable to locate her.
Mulaudzi says it later emerged that the Mabuza was not in the country at the time of the alleged offence.
Based on the information obtained through section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1997 that compels custodians to provide the information, the real person whose details appeared in the affidavit was traced.
He says investigators became aware of the identity of the suspect and kept an eye on her while embarking on a search for the real person whose details were used in fabricating the affidavit.
The investigation also ascertained that "huge amounts of money" were paid to the deponent after deposing of the affidavit.
An identification parade was held [on Thursday] and the persons to whom the suspect made a report, who happens to be employed by a political party, positively identified her. The suspect has further made a confession before the magistrate and is in custody.
The investigation was continuing, he said, and the motive for the false statement had yet to be determined.
- African News Agency (ANA)
