Hawks needed months to ‘find’ Vytjie Mentor

It took them months – but finally the Hawks have made contact with Vytjie Mentor.

The former ANC member of parliament was one of the first people to speak out about the influence of the Gupta family on the state, alleging that they had offered her the Minister of Public Enterprises post at their home in Saxonwold.

She reported this to the Hawks in March, but they claimed they had since been unable to find her.

They had also told the Sunday Times last week that she was frustrating their investigation into the Gupta family by not responding to calls and SMSes.

Mentor said yesterday the Hawks had finally sent her an SMS on Saturday – a day before the Sunday Times story hit the stands.

She claimed the Hawks had only contacted her because she opened a case of defeating the ends of justice with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

She also alleged the Hawks had pressured her to omit charges of complicity in state capture against President Jacob Zuma. Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi could not be reached for comment.

“Only when they saw in the media that I have gone to Ipid to report them, then they go around saying they can’t find me,” Mentor said.

“They sent me an SMS, I have responded to them – this is how I am.”

She said the Hawks now came across as incompetent.

“It is the sadness of our time – they are headed by foolish people who cannot find a poor woman ...I am not even a criminal,” Mentor said.