For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: Hawks Head calls for resources to help investigate over 19 000 cases, affirms support for NPA; Treasury puts dramatic plan for preferential procurement on the table; And, President says Kenya to privatise 35 State companies

Hawks Head calls for resources to help investigate over 19 000 cases, affirms support for NPA

The National Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation – or Hawks – Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya has expressed his confidence in the National Prosecuting Authority to take cases to court, as he revealed that the Hawks is currently investigating more than 19 000 cases.

Outlining the progress made by the investigating unit during the 2023/24 period to tackle crime, Lebeya stressed the need for greater financial and personnel resources as the investigating unit tackles its large caseload.

He highlighted 30 cases, which is three percent of the 1 045 successes experienced during this quarter, and added at least 801 suspects were arrested, which resulted in 244 convictions.

He said that the top five national priority offences that resulted in a high number of arrests included 173 for fraud, 172 for precious metals and diamonds, 52 for narcotics, 48 for cash-in-transit robberies and 37 for corruption.

Lebeya has also expressed confidence in the NPA and in its ability to finalise a number of these cases in court.

Treasury puts dramatic plan for preferential procurement on the table

The Treasury has drawn up far-reaching and extensive requirements to set the framework for how preferential procurement will be done by State entities and departments.

The requirements – which run into seven pages – will form part of the Public Procurement Bill, which is under consideration by Parliament. Preferential procurement is enshrined in the Constitution, which requires Parliament to make laws that will give previously disadvantaged groups an advantage in tendering for State contracts. 

The proposals were presented to the Standing Committee on Finance last Friday, the same week in which Harvard's Growth Lab identified preferential procurement as a leading cause of the collapse of State capacity.

In July, The International Monetary Fund also cautioned South Africa that preferential procurement adds a 20% premium to the State's cost of goods and services. 

And, President says Kenya to privatise 35 State companies

Kenya's President William Ruto said the government was poised to privatise 35 State companies and was looking at a further 100 firms after enacting a law last month to cut down on bureaucracy.

Kenya last privatised a State-owned company in 2008 when it issued an IPO for 25% of the shares in telecommunications firm Safaricom.

In 2009, the cabinet approved a list of 26 firms to privatise, including the Kenya Pipeline Company, Kenya Electricity Generating Company, and banks, but no action has yet been taken.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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