GOOD statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
9 July 2022
Nearly a year ago, I persuaded a whistle-blower to hand damning electronic evidence implicating 26 individuals who appeared to play key roles in instigating or fuelling last July’s attempted insurrection to the Hawks.
This followed my deposing two affidavits, based on the whistle-blower’s evidence, laying out how the spree of violence and looting was orchestrated by participants in four Whatsapp groups.
Messages, voice-notes and videos posted to these groups confirmed that the event was well-orchestrated, and implemented with the intention of over-turning the state. Many of the posts are triumphant in response to some of the worst violence and destruction witnessed in this country since the end of apartheid.
I handed the first batch of evidence to the Crimes Against the State unit of the Hawks on the 4 August 2021, and a second affidavit with supporting audio-visual evidence relating to a Gauteng Whatsapp group, “Joburg Activists Home”, to the Hawks on 26 August 2021.
Both affidavits identified specific individuals involved in the events.
Many South Africans, including this whistle-blower, give information to the criminal justice system at great personal risk.
It is the system’s failure to act on information that leads to impunity, high crime rates, corruption – even insurrection.
The Hawks and NPA must explain to the people of South Africa what they have been doing and why we haven’t seen any real progress with prosecutions. Why it appears that treasonous politically-connected individuals walk free while shoplifters are prosecuted.
The inexplicably slow pace of criminal justice erodes confidence in the independence and commitment of the players in the criminal justice system.
One year on we are rightfully asking, what the hell have you been doing and why are we not seeing any of the masterminds arrested and prosecuted?
As with the electricity crisis, South Africans rightfully demand more from the State than shallow promises of urgency and action.
The NPA and the Hawks owe us an explanation. They have prima facie evidence. Has it been investigated, and if so, why has their been no action?
Media Enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
Cell: 0825183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Janke Tolmay, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0733671223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za