Hawks raid businessmen, govt workers

Johannesburg - The Hawks swooped on businessmen and government officials in raids in Cape Town and Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday morning, spokesperson Musa Zondi said.

"We are busting people... the charges relate to fraud, theft and money laundering," he said.

"The main suspect is a private sector person who is now in custody in Cape Town," said Zondi.

"By the end of the day, we should have arrested eight people."

Asked if any of them were working for the government, he replied: "Yes, they are, there's one former (government official) and two who are currently in government."

Two people had been arrested in Cape Town and three in Pietermaritzburg by 08:00.

The Pietermaritzburg arrests were the government officials, he said.

At the end of the day, five people would appear in court in Belville while the other three were expected to appear in Pietermaritzburg.

The Times newspaper reported that the Asset Forfeiture Unit would attach at least 20 houses and farms and 40 luxury vehicles in the raids.

The properties included the five-star Steenberg hotel in Constantia, the Shamwari lodge in the Eastern Cape and the City Royal hotel in Pietermaritzburg.

Zondi could not immediately confirm this.