Barry Bateman

Communications - Afriforum Private Prosecution Unit.

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

MEDIAVERKLARING: Slagoffer van kinderverkragting en getuies wag in hof – landdros woon eerder welstandseminaar by

AfriForum se privaatvervolgingseenheid meen dat dit blyk of die landdros in ’n kinderverkragtingsaak, ’n welstandseminaar as belangriker ag as die saak van ’n ma en stiefpa wat daarvan beskuldig word dat hulle seksuele misdrywe teen die vrou se dogter gepleeg het toe sy slegs vyf jaar oud was. Landdros Dube het versuim om gister (23 Julie) in die Brits Landdroshof op te daag weens die ��onvoorsiene omstandighede” om ’n geleentheid in Rustenburg by te woon. Intussen was die jong meisie en al die getuies teenwoordig vir die hofsaak om te begin. Die saak was vir twee dae op die rol geplaas.

Die privaatvervolgingseenheid verteenwoordig die meisie en haar pleegouers, en het verseker dat die saak op die rol geplaas word ná die Nasionale Vervolgingsgesag (NVG) aanvanklik nie sou vervolg nie. Klagtes van verkragting, seksuele aanranding en versuim om onmiddellik ’n seksuele misdryf teen ’n kind aan te meld staar die twee beskuldigdes in die gesig. Die oortredings het na bewering in 2018 plaasgevind.

Hierdie saak is tot dusver oorlaai met vertragings. Op twee vorige geleenthede was die saak uitgestel aangesien of ’n tolk of ’n tussenganger nie beskikbaar was nie. Op ’n ander geleentheid is die saak uitgestel nadat die landdros klaarblyklik probleme met haar voertuig gehad het en nie die hofverrigtinge kon bywoon nie. Nie een van die partye, insluitend die beskuldigdes, is meegedeel dat die landdros ’n welstandseminaar gaan bywoon wat die voortsetting van hofverrigtinge sou belemmer nie.

“Die strafregstelsel het werklik inmekaargestort as die regsprekende gesag toelaat dat die welstand van voorsittende beamptes voorkeur geniet bo die welstand van die mees weerlose lede van die samelewing,” sê Barry Bateman, woordvoerder vir AfriForum se privaatvervolgingseenheid.

“Dit is ’n skokkende aanklag teen die strafregstelsel en ’n mislukking om te verseker dat die beste belange van ’n kind die allerbelangrikste oorweging bly. Elke keer as hierdie saak op die rol geplaas word herleef hierdie meisie haar beproewing van voor af wanneer sy voorberei om te getuig. Sy is vir jare aan sekondêre trauma blootgestel terwyl die stelsel wat haar moet beskerm voortgaan om voete te sleep, skynbaar nie geïnteresseerd daarin om haar te help om hierdie traumatiese hoofstuk van haar lewe af te sluit en haar toe te laat om net ’n kind te wees nie,” sê Bateman.

Die privaatvervolgingseenheid gaan nie die identiteit van die beskuldigdes bekendmaak nie ter wille van die beskerming van die meisie se identiteit. Die oortredings het na bewering plaasgevind toe sy maar net vyf jaar oud was en die dossier is kort daarna geopen. Sy is nou 14-jaar oud en ’n dinamiese tiener in die sorg van haar pleegouers wat die privaatvervolgingseenheid genader het ná die NVG aanvanklik besluit het om nie te vervolg nie. Die saak is uiteindelik in Julie verlede jaar op die rol geplaas ná die privaatvervolgingseenheid toegetree het, en was aanvanklik vir 16 Februarie vanjaar op die rol geplaas. Dit is egter toe tot Mei uitgestel, toe tot gister, en nou tot November.

Die privaatvervolgingseenheid sal ’n skrywe aan die president van die Streekshof asook die Landdros Kommissie rig om amptelik kommer oor die behandeling van ’n kinderslagoffer van ’n afskuwelike misdaad en herhaalde vertragings in die saak uit te lig.

Die saak is na 25 en 26 November uitgestel.

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

MEDIA STATEMENT: Child rape victim and witnesses attend court – magistrate attends “wellness seminar” instead

A magistrates’ “wellness seminar” took precedence over the trial of a mother and stepfather accused of sexual offences committed against the woman’s daughter when she was just five years old. The magistrate, Ms. Dube failed to appear at the Brits Magistrates’ Court yesterday (23 July 2026) due to the “unforeseen circumstances”, as described by the prosecutor, of having to attend the event in Rustenburg.  Meanwhile, the young girl and all the witnesses were present for the start of the trial that was set down for two days.

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit represents the girl and her foster parents, and ensured that the matter was enrolled after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) initially declined to prosecute. The two accused face charges of rape, sexual assault, and failure to immediately report a sexual offence against a child. The offences allegedly took place in 2018.

The case has been beset by delays. On two previous occasions, although the complainant was ready to testify, the matter was postponed because either an interpreter or an intermediary was unavailable. On another occasion, the matter was postponed after the magistrate reportedly experienced vehicle trouble and was unable to attend court. None of the parties, including the accused, were informed of the magistrate’s attendance at a “wellness seminar”, which prevented the trial from proceeding, and all arrived at court expecting the trial to commence.

“The criminal justice system has truly collapsed if the judiciary allows the wellness of presiding officers to take precedence over the wellbeing of the most vulnerable members of society,” says Barry Bateman, spokesperson for AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit.

“This is a shocking indictment of the criminal justice system and a failure to ensure that the best interests of a child remain the paramount consideration. Every time this matter is set down for court, the girl relives her ordeal as she prepares to testify. She has been subjected to years of secondary trauma, while the very system that is supposed to protect her continues to drag its feet, seemingly disinterested in helping her close this traumatic chapter of her life and simply allowing her to be a child,” said Bateman.

The unit is not identifying the parents in order to protect the identity of the child. The offences allegedly took place when she was just five years old, and the case docket opened soon thereafter. She is now 14-years-old and a vibrant teenager in the care of her foster parents, who approached the Private Prosecution Unit after the NPA declined to prosecute the case. Following the unit’s intervention, the matter was eventually enrolled in July last year and set down to start trial on 16 February this year, but was subsequently postponed to May, then to yesterday, and has now been postponed until November.

The unit will write to the Regional Court President and the Magistrates Commission to formally register its concerns regarding the treatment of a child victim of a heinous crime, and the repeated delays in starting the trial.

The case was postponed to 25 and 26 November for trial.

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

We issued a statement on this on Tuesday, before the accused pleaded, because Ndlovu's widow has been locked out of the plea process. She has been described as "a problem" while other family members were approached with requests to sign documents behind her back.

MEDIA STATEMENT: Questions over alleged attempts to sideline assassinated DA Councillor’s widow in plea deal with alleged killers

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit has raised serious concerns with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) over apparent attempts to sideline Pretty Ndlovu – the widow of Nhlalayenza Ndlovu, the murdered DA Chief Whip of the uMngeni Local Municipality – in plea negotiations with some of his alleged assassins. The unit represents Pretty and the Municipality. On 4 December 2023, Pretty witnessed the attackers shoot her husband at least ten times at their home in eMasosheni, outside Howick in KwaZulu-Natal.

The unit has been informed that Pretty had been labelled “a problem”, that investigators have consequently approached other family members to circumvent Pretty exercising her rights, and that they have solicited their secret cooperation in signing documents because “Pretty is a problem”. Notably, the family members in question were allegedly instructed not to disclose anything to Pretty.

This course of action follows the NPA’s consistent failure to respond meaningfully to correspondence related to the proposed plea agreement between the state and the accused. Attempts by the unit to consult with the state, together with Pretty, also failed to materialise.

In March this year, and in subsequent correspondence, the unit raised its concerns regarding Pretty’s apparent exclusion from the plea process. It appeared that prosecutors were focusing on securing convictions against the so-called foot soldiers (or lower-level participants) in the conspiracy to murder Ndlovu, while relying heavily on the testimony of one accused to implicate the alleged mastermind. However, the accused in question could renege on the agreement later and scupper the case.

The unit added that the full details related to the alleged conspiracy and the specific roles played by each of the accused must be placed before the court, as this is not only in the interests of justice for the court to make a proper determination on the plea but also in the interests of the family and society.

In correspondence to the NPA Advocate Gerrie Nel, Head of the Private Prosecution Unit, reiterated the concern last week (10 July), saying victims of crime play a central role in the administration of justice. “We cannot allow our clients’ rights to be flouted where there appears to be a deliberate narrative, clouded in a veil of secrecy, used to avoid accountability, while the prosecution and the defence appear to seek to circumvent our clients’ right to make submissions for the purposes of open court processes,” wrote Nel.

“We must remind your office that our clients are not seeking special treatment or any kind of privilege, but rather to exercise their rights as established in section 105A of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977. The exercise of this right is central to the NPA’s stated goal of being victim-focused,” said Nel.

[The Witness @WitnessKZN]

One of the accused who pleaded guilty to the murder of uMngeni Municipality DA councillor, Nhlalayenza Ndlovu told the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court on Wednesday that he learnt two days after the murder that Ndlovu was a political figure.

https://t.co/uyIxfbXF9Q

[The Witness @WitnessKZN]

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit has accused the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of sidelining the widow of slain uMngeni Municipality DA chief whip, Nhlalayenza Ndlovu, in plea negotiations with two of his alleged killers.

https://t.co/Keobrtb8JY

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

https://t.co/2lqP4y3nb6

[spiked @spikedonline]

The final panel takes on one of the day's most controversial topics.

Brendan O'Neill, Lionel Shriver, Fiyaz Mughal and Tom Slater discuss Islam, the left and the West.

#SpikedSummit

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

MEDIAVERKLARING: Hof sal ná 20 jaar uiteindelik sê oor Nengwane-dood

Solomon (Solly) Nengwane se familie sal nou, twee dekades ná Solomon in die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) se aanhouding gesterf het, weet of enigiemand verantwoordelik gehou kan word vir sy moord. ’n Formele geregtelike doodsondersoek na sy dood sou aanvanklik in April 2021 in die landdroshof in Brits begin het, maar ná vyf jaar se uitstel het die hof uiteindelik op 25 Junie AfriForum se privaatvervolgingseenheid se aansoek vir ’n informele ondersoek toegestaan. Die hof sal nou ’n besluit maak gebaseer op die feite wat in die dossier vervat is sonder om getuienis aan te hoor.

Volgens adv. Gerrie Nel, hoof van AfriForum se privaatvervolgingseenheid, het die persone van belang in hierdie saak opsetlik die finalisering van die ondersoek vertraag ten einde aanspreeklikheid vry te spring. Nel meen dat die enigste bevinding wat gemaak kan word is dat lede van die SAPD prima facie verantwoordelik was vir die dood van Nengwane.

Die saak is aanvanklik vir strafregtelike vervolging op die rol geplaas, maar is in November 2020 deur adv. Sibongile Mzinyathi, direkteur van Openbare Vervolgings, teruggetrek en verwys vir ’n ondersoek.

Die persone van belang in hierdie saak wat na bewering verantwoordelik was vir of betrokke was by Nengwane se dood is voormalige SAPD-beamptes Jan Mabula, Samuel Kutumela, Vekela Moholoane, Abram Losoba en Mpikwa Makhubo. ’n Huidige misdaad intelligensie beampte, luitenant-kolonel Ismael Dawood is ook ’n persoon van belang. Mabula is ’n voormalige generaal-majoor en was ook die adjunk provinsiale polisiekommissaris wat verantwoordelik was vir misdaad-opsporing in die Noordwes toe hy in 2020 afgetree het.

Die privaatvervolgingseenheid verteenwoordig Nengwane se familie. Die 42-jarige Nengwane was een van vyf mense wat in 2006 in hegtenis geneem en ondervra is ná miljoene Amerikaanse dollar en dwelms by die Benoni-polisiestasie gesteel is. Mabula was die bevelvoerder van die operasie wat tot Nengwane se arrestasie gelei het. Nengwane het gedurende die aand van 6 tot 7 Junie 2006 gesterf terwyl hy in polisieaanhouding was, en sy liggaam is later by ’n hospitaal afgelaai nadat rigor mortis reeds ingetree het. Die betrokkenes se weergawe is dat Nengwane, terwyl hulle hom op ’n sogenaamd “uitwysing” gevat het, begin sukkel het om asem te haal en dat hulle hom na die Dr George Mukhari Hospitaal geneem het vir behandeling. Die dokter wat Nengwane ondersoek het, het egter gesê dat Nengwane waarskynlik al vir minstens twee tot drie ure dood was teen die tyd wat hulle hom hospitaal toe geneem het.

Nel argumenteer dat die persone van belang vervolg moet word. Nel voer aan dat die aanvanklike klag hervat moet word en dat die persone wat vir Nengwane se dood verantwoordelik was, asook die medepligtiges, aangekla moet word van moord en regsverydeling. “Die voortdurende afwesigheid van aanspreeklikheid in hierdie soort saak verteenwoordig ’n diepgaande mislukking van geregtigheid. Min dinge kan meer verwoestend wees vir ’n bedroefde familie as om waarheid, afsluiting en geregtigheid ontsê te word waar ’n geliefde gesterf het terwyl hy in die sorg van die polisie was.”

Volgens Barry Bateman, woordvoerder vir AfriForum se privaatvervolgingseenheid, het hierdie saak die wyse waarop wetstoepassers die strafregstelsel blyk te misbruik om aanspreeklikheid te vermy blootgelê. “Die Solomon Nengwane-saak is veral van belang in ’n tyd waarin die Madlanga-kommissie blootlê hoe polisiebeamptes beweerde misdadigheid probeer verbloem. Vir die afgelope vyf jaar het die persone van belang die ondersoek probeer ontwrig en verhinder om te begin. AfriForum se privaatvervolgingseenheid is egter vol vertroue dat daar genoegsame bewyse in die dossier is om die ondersoeklanddros in staat te stel om die nodige bevinding in terme van die Wet op Geregtelike Doodsondersoeke te maak en die Direkteur van Openbare vervolgings te oortuig om wel te vervolg.”

Die hof sal na verwagting sy besluit voor einde Julie maak.

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

MEDIA STATEMENT: Nengwane family sees end in sight as court weighs police role in death

Two decades after Solomon (Solly) Nengwane died in police custody, his family will finally learn whether anyone can be held responsible for his murder. A formal inquest into his death was initially set down to begin in April 2021 in the Brits Magistrates’ Court, but after five years of delays, the court granted AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit’s application for an informal inquest on 25 June. The court will now make its decision based on the facts contained in the docket, without hearing witnesses.

“The persons of interest deliberately delayed the finalisation of the inquest to escape accountability,” argued Advocate Gerrie Nel, head of the Unit. “The only possible finding is that members of SAPS as discussed hereunder were prima facie responsible.”

The case was initially set down for criminal prosecution, but was withdrawn in November 2020 by Advocate Sibongile Mzinyathi, Director of Public Prosecutions, and referred for an inquest.

The persons of interest in the case, suspected of being responsible for or involved in the death, are former police officers Jan Mabula, Samuel Kutumela, Vekela Moholoane, Abram Losoba and Mpikwa Makhubo. Current Crime Intelligence officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ismael Dawood is also a person of interest. Mabula is a former major general and was the Deputy Provincial Police Commissioner for Crime Detection in the North West when he retired in 2020.

The Unit represents Nengwane’s family. The 42-year-old was one of five people arrested in 2006 and questioned by police after millions of American dollars and drugs were stolen from the Benoni Police Station. Mabula was the commander of the operation that led to Nengwane’s arrest. Nengwane died during the night of 6 to 7 June 2006 while in police custody, and his body was later dropped off at hospital with rigor mortis already set in. Their version is that, while taking Nengwane on a so-called pointing out, he began having difficulty breathing, and they took him to Dr George Mukhari Hospital for treatment. However, the doctor who examined Nengwane said he had most likely been dead for at least two to three hours.

Nel argued that the persons of interest should be prosecuted. “We will argue that the initial indictment should be revived and the persons who killed the deceased and those who are guilty as being accessories after the fact should be charged for murder and defeating the ends of justice. The enduring absence of accountability in a matter of this nature represents a profound failure of justice. Few experiences can be more devastating for a bereaved family than being denied truth, closure and justice where a loved one dies whilst under the care and control of the Police,” he said.

Barry Bateman, spokesperson for the unit, said the case has exposed how law enforcement officials seemingly abuse the criminal justice system to avoid accountability. “The Solomon Nengwane case is especially significant at a time when the Madlanga Commission is exposing how police officers try to hide alleged criminality. For the past five years, the persons of interest frustrated the inquest process and prevented it from starting. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit is, however, confident there is sufficient evidence in the docket to enable the Inquest Magistrate to make the necessary finding in terms of the Inquest Act and to convince the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute.” Bateman said.

The court is expected to make its decision before the end of July.

[Pule Letshwiti-Jones @pule_jones]

DEVELOPING: @eNCA

*MEDIA STATEMENT: Serious questions after Hawks promote Madlanga witness facing criminal investigation*

In what appears to be yet another example of the authorities paying lip service to their commitment to rooting out corruption, Hawks Tactical Operations Head Brigadier Lesiba Mokoena, who gave evidence before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, has been promoted despite being under criminal investigation, and despite serious questions raised about his integrity under oath and filed in a case docket. He is accused of making fraudulent entries in a register to unlawfully claim overtime. The alleged conduct was reported by a subordinate 18 months ago, yet the Hawks’ anti-corruption section says the “investigation is continuing and statements must still be obtained”.

The complainant, a warrant officer, approached AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit in November last year after Hawks management failed to investigate and act on the complaint. During his testimony before the Madlanga Commission in October last year, Mokoena was a brigadier, a rank above colonel, which was his rank when the complaint was filed in November 2024.

Advocate Gerrie Nel, head of the Unit, says this failure to act stands in stark contrast to the speed with which action is often taken against people mentioned at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. “Although we criticise the appointment of commissions of inquiry to substitute police investigations, we have noted the sudden apparent efficiency of the SAPS in investigating certain matters

“On this very aspect of investigating your own, we find it extraordinarily peculiar that a simple and uncomplicated allegation of misrepresentation relating to ‘overtime’ by a senior member of SAPS has, since 2024, resulted in your office repeatedly reporting ‘progress’ as part of an ongoing investigation. We must accept that your office has the necessary skills to deal with such matters,” said Nel.

At the Madlanga Commission, Mokoena was accused of playing a significant role in efforts by the Hawks to disrupt the Political Killings Task Team’s arrest of Katiso Molefe on 6 December 2024. The commission criticised him for being evasive and inconsistent about his role in the incident. Meanwhile, since the fraud complaint was filed in November 2024, Hawks management has told the complainant that the matter remains under investigation, prompting the complainant to approach the Private Prosecution Unit in December last year.

Barry Bateman, spokesperson for the unit, says the Hawks’ conduct in the case against Mokoena has exposed selective investigation. “While the Madlanga Commission has prompted public claims of a renewed commitment to accountability within the SAPS, developments behind the scenes suggest this is merely window dressing in response to the embarrassment of the revelations broadcast live almost every day for the past nine months. But what concerns the Private Prosecution Unit is the selective way law enforcement exercises its authority, and how this appears to be swayed by political expediency rather than a genuine commitment to addressing malfeasance within the ranks. This office was established to address selective prosecution and will apply pressure on the Hawks to conclude its investigation so that prosecution can follow if the State does not have the appetite to do so,” said Bateman.

The Unit has asked the Hawks to provide a meaningful response to questions about the status of the investigation and an explanation for the inexplicable delay in finalising the matter.

ENDS

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

MEDIAVERKLARING: Ernstige vrae ná Valke Madlanga-getuie in strafregtelike ondersoek bevorder

Dit blyk dat die Valke nie ernstig is oor hul voorneme om korrupsie in hul eie geledere uit te wis nie aangesien die Valke se taktiese operasies hoof, brigadier Lesiba Mokoena, onlangs bevorder is. Mokoena het as getuie voor die Madlanga-kommissie van Ondersoek na Misdadigheid, Politieke Inmenging en Korrupsie in die Strafregstelsel gedien, hy word ook tans strafregtelik ondersoek en daar is ook vrae oor sy integriteit onder eed. Hy word daarvan beskuldig dat hy bedrieglike inskrywings op ’n register gemaak het om onwettig oortyd te eis. Dié beweerde optrede is 18 maande gelede deur ’n ondergeskikte aangemeld, ten spyte daarvan sê die Valke se teen korrupsie afdeling dat die ondersoek voortduur en dat verklarings steeds verkry moet word.

Die klaer, ’n adjudant-offisier, het AfriForum se privaatvervolgingseenheid in November verlede jaar genader ná die Valke-bestuur daarin gefaal het om die klag te ondersoek en daarop op te tree. Mokoena was ’n brigadier ten tyde van sy getuienis voor die Madlanga-kommissie in Oktober verlede jaar, ’n rang bo kolonel, wat sy rang was toe die klag teen hom in November 2024 aanhangig gemaak is.

Adv. Gerrie Nel, hoof van AfriForum se privaatvervolgingseenheid, sê hierdie versuim om op te tree staan in starre kontras met hoe daar gewoonlik teen diegene wat selfs in die Madlanga-kommissie van ondersoek net genoem word. Nel meen dat hoewel die privaatvervolgingseenheid die aanstelling van kommissies van ondersoek wat polisie ondersoeke vervang kritiseer, het die eenheid opgemerk dat daar skielik ’n skynbare doeltreffenheid is in die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) se ondersoeke na sekere kwessies.

In ’n skrywe aan die Valke het Nel onder meer gesê dat dit vreemd is dat ’n eenvoudige en ongekompliseerde bewering van wanvoorstelling met betrekking tot “oortyd” deur ’n senior amptenaar by die SAPD sedert 2024 daartoe gelei het dat daar heeltyd gesê word dat daar vordering in die ondersoek is hoewel dit nie blyk nader aan afgehandel te wees nie. Nel meen dat daar eenvoudig aanvaar moet word dat die Valke oor die nodige vaardighede beskik om sulke kwessies uit te sorteer.

Mokoena is by die Madlanga-kommissie daarvan beskuldig dat hy ’n wesenlike rol gespeel het in pogings van die Valke om die taakspan vir politieke moorde se in hegtenisneming van Katiso Molefe op 6 Desember 2024 te ontwrig. Die kommissie het hom gekritiseer dat hy te ontwykend en inkonsekwent was oor sy rol in die insident. Intussen, sedert die klagte van bedrog in November 2024 gelê is, het die Valke-bestuur aan die klaer gesê dat die saak steeds ondersoek word, dít het die klaer genoop om uiteindelik in Desember verlede jaar AfriForum se privaatvervolgingseenheid om hulp te nader.

Barry Bateman, woordvoerder vir AfriForum se privaatvervolgingseenheid, meen dat die Valke se optrede in die saak teen Mokoena ’n selektiewe ondersoek blootgelê het. “terwyl die Madlanga-kommissie openbare bewerings van ’n hernude toewyding tot verantwoordbaarheid binne die SAPD maak, is daar verwikkelinge agter die skerms wat daarop dui dat hierdie bloot ’n dekmantel is in reaksie op die vernedering van die openbarings wat byna daagliks vir die afgelope nege maande uitgesaai is. Wat die privaatvervolgingseenheid egter meer bekommer is die selektiewe wyse waarop wetstoepassers hul outoriteit uitoefen, en hoe dit blyk vir politieke gerieflikheidshalwe beïnvloed te word eerder as om ���n opregte toewyding om wanpraktyke binne eie geledere die hoof te bied.”

Die privaatvervolgingseenheid versoek dat die Valke betekenisvolle terugvoer op hul vrae oor die status van die ondersoek lewer en ’n verduideliking bied vir die onverklaarbare vertraging om hierdie saak af te handel.

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

MEDIA STATEMENT: Serious questions after Hawks promote Madlanga witness facing criminal investigation

In what appears to be yet another example of the authorities paying lip service to their commitment to rooting out corruption, Hawks Tactical Operations Head Brigadier Lesiba Mokoena, who gave evidence before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, has been promoted despite being under criminal investigation, and despite serious questions raised about his integrity under oath and filed in a case docket. He is accused of making fraudulent entries in a register to unlawfully claim overtime. The alleged conduct was reported by a subordinate 18 months ago, yet the Hawks’ anti-corruption section says the “investigation is continuing and statements must still be obtained”.

The complainant, a warrant officer, approached AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit in November last year after Hawks management failed to investigate and act on the complaint. During his testimony before the Madlanga Commission in October last year, Mokoena was a brigadier, a rank above colonel, which was his rank when the complaint was filed in November 2024.

Advocate Gerrie Nel, head of the Unit, says this failure to act stands in stark contrast to the speed with which action is often taken against people mentioned at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. “Although we criticise the appointment of commissions of inquiry to substitute police investigations, we have noted the sudden apparent efficiency of the SAPS in investigating certain matters

“On this very aspect of investigating your own, we find it extraordinarily peculiar that a simple and uncomplicated allegation of misrepresentation relating to ‘overtime’ by a senior member of SAPS has, since 2024, resulted in your office repeatedly reporting ‘progress’ as part of an ongoing investigation. We must accept that your office has the necessary skills to deal with such matters,” said Nel.

At the Madlanga Commission, Mokoena was accused of playing a significant role in efforts by the Hawks to disrupt the Political Killings Task Team’s arrest of Katiso Molefe on 6 December 2024. The commission criticised him for being evasive and inconsistent about his role in the incident. Meanwhile, since the fraud complaint was filed in November 2024, Hawks management has told the complainant that the matter remains under investigation, prompting the complainant to approach the Private Prosecution Unit in December last year.

Barry Bateman, spokesperson for the unit, says the Hawks’ conduct in the case against Mokoena has exposed selective investigation. “While the Madlanga Commission has prompted public claims of a renewed commitment to accountability within the SAPS, developments behind the scenes suggest this is merely window dressing in response to the embarrassment of the revelations broadcast live almost every day for the past nine months. But what concerns the Private Prosecution Unit is the selective way law enforcement exercises its authority, and how this appears to be swayed by political expediency rather than a genuine commitment to addressing malfeasance within the ranks. This office was established to address selective prosecution and will apply pressure on the Hawks to conclude its investigation so that prosecution can follow if the State does not have the appetite to do so,” said Bateman.

The Unit has asked the Hawks to provide a meaningful response to questions about the status of the investigation and an explanation for the inexplicable delay in finalising the matter.

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

@lyonleblanc @Recon1_ZA Where is the State?
Can we accept that SAPS is incapable of tracing terrorists and bomb-makers? That's a deeply worrying message.

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

@lyonleblanc @Recon1_ZA Indeed.
Two homemade bombs are detonated in shops in two major malls, and weeks later we have heard nothing from the authorities. Nor does there appear to be any concern or urgency from them.
So, do we simply forget about it until there is a "real" terrorist attack?

[Konstantin Kisin @KonstantinKisin]

You can watch the full episode here
https://t.co/78ObV4g694

[Konstantin Kisin @KonstantinKisin]

Want to save the West? Start by telling your children the truth.

A society that teaches its children to hate their inheritance shouldn't be surprised when they fail to preserve it.

Teach your children gratitude. Teach them why freedom matters. Teach them what made the West successful.

Because if you don't tell them the truth about their civilisation, someone else will tell them a lie.

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

The driver of the green Mini has publicly documented his racing exploits. In this video he keeps up with a 2013 BMW M3 coupe, which is rated at 0-160kph in about 10s. Here, from the green light to brake lights is about 10s. On a public road.
The SAPS has recently demonstrated how quickly and efficiently it can collect and prepare evidence from social media, notably where the suspect is a politician.
Social media is awash with footage of racing taking place on Steve Biko Road. Will SAPS act with the same vigour to address conduct that literally risks life and limb?
At the very least, this driver should face charges of reckless driving. If the SAPS is serious about addressing this issue, it will investigate his role in the broader organised racing along Steve Biko Road that has taken place on Sundays for decades.
AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit has raised these issues, along with allegations that law enforcement officials are involved in organising and managing the races, in correspondence to Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Tommy Mthombeni.

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

MEDIA STATEMENT: Alleged law enforcement coverup and complicity revealed in deadly street racing events

The recent deadly crash during an illegal street race along Steve Biko Road in Gezina, Pretoria, has not only exposed an alleged police cover-up to protect those involved, but law enforcement’s possible complicity in organising and overseeing the weekly events. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit represents Frieda Bezuidenhout, whose son, Phillip, was a passenger in a Honda Ballade involved in a drag race on 3 May. Phillip died after the car collided with an uninvolved motorist’s vehicle before crashing into a pole. The Honda driver, Willie Momberg, as well the driver of the Renault, survived. Bezuidenhout’s family was informed that the South African Police Service (SAPS) are pursuing a culpable homicide case against the driver of the Renault.

That section of road has been used for illegal street racing for decades and has seen numerous deadly crashes, yet the activity has continued unabated. The information and evidence the Private Prosecution Unit has now provided to the SAPS could explain how the active involvement of some law enforcement officers may have contributed to this thriving and deadly subculture of fast cars and high-powered engines.

Video footage showing a maroon Honda Ballade colliding at high speed with the white Renault has been widely shared on social media. New footage that has emerged shows a person whose identity is known assaulting the injured Renault driver in front of SAPS officers who were, inexplicably, on the scene within seconds of the crash. It is alleged that some SAPS officers may have been part of a network of people involved in illegal racing and the organisation of these events. Several of the regular participants who appear to be publicly associated with some of the SAPS officers, openly brag about their conduct on social media, and even invite others to join by providing the dates, times and locations of the races.

In a letter to the SAPS, Adv. Gerrie Nel, head of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, says the race participants show no fear of the authorities clamping down on their illegal racing. “The failure of law enforcement to prevent the practice of holding road races on a public street, while other vehicles still have access to that street, is not only reprehensible, but may also support an argument that law enforcement was complicit in the reckless lawlessness that has yet again claimed a life. Members of the public must be able to use public roads at any time of day without fear that racing vehicles will endanger their safety,” says Nel.

Barry Bateman, spokesperson for the Unit, says the fact that hundreds of spectators gather every Sunday to witness these illegal races creates the inescapable conclusion that law enforcement is involved or at least turning a blind eye to it. “This street race on this specific road was not a once-off or exceptional occurrence, but rather part of a well-established and organised practice of Sunday road races allowed and even supported by members of the SAPS.

“The information and evidence we have gathered reveals a well-documented – and even arrogant – display of lawlessness on public roads by a group of people linked through a street-racing subculture that is thriving in the north of Pretoria. The social media accounts of several participants provide evidence of not only their races on Steve Biko Road, but also general reckless and dangerous driving on public streets in their high-powered vehicles. Considering the speed and efficiency with which the SAPS recently secured social media evidence in a well-publicised case against a politician, the public must expect the same urgency in securing evidence where the conduct in question could kill or maim innocent motorists and pedestrians. Failure to do so will surely confirm suspicions of police involvement or a cover-up,” says Bateman.

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

MEDIAVERKLARING: Privaatvervolgingseenheid rig soeklig op polisie se beweerde toesmeerdery van straatrenne

Die onlangse noodlottige ongeluk tydens ’n onwettige straatren op Steve Biko-weg in Gezina, Pretoria, het bewerings blootgelê van ’n toesmeerdery in die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) om die betrokkenes te beskerm. Dit het ook ernstige vrae laat ontstaan oor wetstoepassers se moontlike betrokkenheid by die organisering en bestuur van hierdie weeklikse byeenkomste. AfriForum se privaatvervolgingseenheid verteenwoordig Frieda Bezuidenhout, wie se seun, Phillip, ’n passasier in ’n Honda Ballade was wat op 3 Mei aan ’n straatren deelgeneem het. Phillip is dood nadat die motor met ’n onbetrokke motoris se Renault gebots het voordat dit teen ’n paal tot stilstand gekom het. Die Honda-bestuurder, Willie Momberg, sowel as die bestuurder van die Renault, het oorleef. Bezuidenhout se familie is in kennis gestel dat die SAPD ’n saak van strafbare manslag teen die bestuurder van die Renault ondersoek.

Daardie gedeelte van die pad word al dekades lank vir onwettige straatrenne gebruik en het al talle noodlottige ongelukke tot gevolg gehad. Tog bly dié aktiwiteit onverpoosd voortduur. Die inligting en bewyse wat die privaatvervolgingseenheid nou aan die SAPD verskaf het, kan verduidelik hoe die aktiewe betrokkenheid van sommige wetstoepassingsbeamptes moontlik bygedra het tot hierdie florerende en dodelike subkultuur van vinnige motors en kragtige enjins.

Beeldmateriaal wat wys hoe ’n maroen Honda Ballade teen ’n hoë spoed met ’n wit Renault bots, is wyd op sosiale media gedeel. Nuwe beeldmateriaal wat na vore gekom het, wys hoe ’n persoon – wie se identiteit bekend is – die beseerde Renault-bestuurder aanrand voor SAPD-beamptes wat, onverklaarbaar, binne sekondes ná die ongeluk op die toneel was. Daar word beweer dat sommige SAPD-beamptes moontlik deel is van ’n netwerk van mense wat betrokke is by onwettige straatrenne en die organisering van hierdie byeenkomste. Verskeie van die gereelde deelnemers wat blykbaar in die openbaar met sommige van die SAPD-beamptes geassosieer word, spog openlik oor hul optrede op sosiale media en nooi selfs ander uit om aan te sluit deur die datums, tye en liggings van die straatrenne te verskaf.

In ’n brief aan die SAPD sê adv. Gerrie Nel, hoof van AfriForum se privaatvervolgingseenheid, dat die deelnemers aan onwettige straatrenne geen vrees toon dat die owerhede teen hierdie praktyk sal optree nie. “Wetstoepassers se versuim om te verhoed dat straatrenne op ’n openbare pad gehou word terwyl ander voertuie steeds toegang tot daardie pad het, is nie net afkeurenswaardig nie, maar kan ook die argument versterk dat wetstoepassers medepligtig was aan die roekelose wetteloosheid wat nóg ’n lewe geëis het. Lede van die publiek moet openbare paaie enige tyd van die dag kan gebruik sonder die vrees dat renvoertuie hul veiligheid in gevaar sal stel,” sê Nel.

Barry Bateman, woordvoerder van die privaatvervolgingseenheid, sê die feit dat honderde toeskouers elke Sondag bymekaarkom om hierdie onwettige straatrenne te aanskou, die onvermydelike gevolgtrekking skep dat wetstoepassing betrokke is of ten minste ’n blinde oog daarvoor draai. “Hierdie straatren op hierdie spesifieke pad was nie ’n eenmalige of uitsonderlike gebeurtenis nie, maar eerder deel van ’n gevestigde en georganiseerde praktyk van Sondag-padwedrenne wat deur lede van die SAPD toegelaat en selfs ondersteun word.

“Die inligting en bewyse wat ons ingesamel het, onthul ’n goed gedokumenteerde – en selfs arrogante – vertoning van wetteloosheid op openbare paaie deur ’n groep mense wat verbind word deur ’n straatren-subkultuur wat in die noorde van Pretoria floreer. Die sosialemediarekeninge van verskeie deelnemers bevat bewyse van nie net hul straatrenne op Steve Biko-weg nie, maar ook van algemene roekelose en gevaarlike bestuur op openbare paaie in hul kragtige voertuie. Gegewe die spoed en doeltreffendheid waarmee die SAPD onlangs sosialemediabewyse in ’n wyd gepubliseerde saak teen ’n politikus bekom het, moet die publiek dieselfde dringendheid verwag om bewyse te bekom waar die betrokke optrede tot onskuldige motoriste en voetgangers se dood kan lei of tot ernstig beserings. Sou die SAPD versuim om dit te doen, sal dit ongetwyfeld vermoedens van SAPD-betrokkenheid of ’n toesmeerdery bevestig,” sê Bateman.

[Barry Bateman @barrybateman]

MEDIA STATEMENT: Alleged law enforcement coverup and complicity revealed in deadly street racing events

The recent deadly crash during an illegal street race along Steve Biko Road in Gezina, Pretoria, has not only exposed an alleged police cover-up to protect those involved, but law enforcement’s possible complicity in organising and overseeing the weekly events. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit represents Frieda Bezuidenhout, whose son, Phillip, was a passenger in a Honda Ballade involved in a drag race on 3 May. Phillip died after the car collided with an uninvolved motorist’s vehicle before crashing into a pole. The Honda driver, Willie Momberg, as well the driver of the Renault, survived. Bezuidenhout’s family was informed that the South African Police Service (SAPS) are pursuing a culpable homicide case against the driver of the Renault.

That section of road has been used for illegal street racing for decades and has seen numerous deadly crashes, yet the activity has continued unabated. The information and evidence the Private Prosecution Unit has now provided to the SAPS could explain how the active involvement of some law enforcement officers may have contributed to this thriving and deadly subculture of fast cars and high-powered engines.

Video footage showing a maroon Honda Ballade colliding at high speed with the white Renault has been widely shared on social media. New footage that has emerged shows a person whose identity is known assaulting the injured Renault driver in front of SAPS officers who were, inexplicably, on the scene within seconds of the crash. It is alleged that some SAPS officers may have been part of a network of people involved in illegal racing and the organisation of these events. Several of the regular participants who appear to be publicly associated with some of the SAPS officers, openly brag about their conduct on social media, and even invite others to join by providing the dates, times and locations of the races.

In a letter to the SAPS, Adv. Gerrie Nel, head of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, says the race participants show no fear of the authorities clamping down on their illegal racing. “The failure of law enforcement to prevent the practice of holding road races on a public street, while other vehicles still have access to that street, is not only reprehensible, but may also support an argument that law enforcement was complicit in the reckless lawlessness that has yet again claimed a life. Members of the public must be able to use public roads at any time of day without fear that racing vehicles will endanger their safety,” says Nel.

Barry Bateman, spokesperson for the Unit, says the fact that hundreds of spectators gather every Sunday to witness these illegal races creates the inescapable conclusion that law enforcement is involved or at least turning a blind eye to it. “This street race on this specific road was not a once-off or exceptional occurrence, but rather part of a well-established and organised practice of Sunday road races allowed and even supported by members of the SAPS.

“The information and evidence we have gathered reveals a well-documented – and even arrogant – display of lawlessness on public roads by a group of people linked through a street-racing subculture that is thriving in the north of Pretoria. The social media accounts of several participants provide evidence of not only their races on Steve Biko Road, but also general reckless and dangerous driving on public streets in their high-powered vehicles. Considering the speed and efficiency with which the SAPS recently secured social media evidence in a well-publicised case against a politician, the public must expect the same urgency in securing evidence where the conduct in question could kill or maim innocent motorists and pedestrians. Failure to do so will surely confirm suspicions of police involvement or a cover-up,” says Bateman.

[Kallie Kriel @kalliekriel]

This is what @AfriForum does with R22.6 million per month: The convicted criminal Julius Malema accused AfriForum of stealing money.

[Nigel Farage @Nigel_Farage]

What happened in Belfast last night is horrific.

The authorities must reveal the identity and status of the attacker immediately.

The public are entitled to the truth.

[Conscious Caracal 🇿🇦 @ConCaracal]

Why did Advocate Gerrie Nel join AfriForum?
Who does the Private Prosecution Unit assist?
How is AfriForum holding corrupt politicians accountable?
What does Adv. Nel think about televised court cases?

I discussed this and more with Adv. Nel this week:

https://t.co/xy8voBgU3v