The Hawks in the Eastern Cape said it has received information that people involved in a pension scam targeting women plan to attack police and Hawks investigators.
The head of the Hawks in the province, Major-General Nyameko Nogwanya, has warned those making the threats that there "will be serious consequences."
He said they are investigating at least five fraud cases involving an estimated R5m.
According to police the scamsters who are mostly foreign nationals, woo vulnerable Eastern Cape women into romantic relationships. They later convince the women to cash in their pensions on the promise of doubling their money, and then flee with the cash.
"This month the unit arrested a total of four suspects aged between 21 and 44-years. Jerald Mukasa (44) and Suudi Nsubuga (34), Ugandan nationals, are accused of defrauding a 46-year-old Idutywa teacher just over R800 000 of her pension money during June, 2016," said General Nogwanya.
"On the other hand Joshua Setimba Kyebakolo (34), a Ugandan national, and Siphamandla Melaphi (21), a South African, face a charged of Fraud for the case of a 50-year-old former Queenstown teacher who in 2014 was defrauded just over R1.1 million of her pension money," he said.
He also said that "it has come to my attention that suspects allegedly involved in traditional scams who are mostly foreigners, are allegedly planning to attack the police, DPCI members in particular as my members are dealing with this investigation."
"This kind of intimidation shall not deter any investigation as no form of threat shall be tolerated against my members. Further to that it shall not be tolerated that any witness shall be intimidated direct or indirect by any suspect or convicted accused with the intention to silence and or to stop investigation,†Nogwanya added.
“Anyone with such an ulterior motive must consider this warning in a serious light as there shall be consequences to whoever fails to adhere or respect the rule of law," said Major General Nogwanya.
