[miningmx.com] – THE Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) is to investigate an empowerment deal involving Gold Fields’ South Deep mine and empowerment company Invictus Gold, a R2.1bn transaction that has already attracted the attention of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), said BDLive.
This follows a request by DA MP, James Lorimer that the matter be scrutinised by the Hawks. Confirmation of the probe was confirmed in a letter by Maj-Gen JW Meiring of the Hawks, BDLive said.
Gold Fields has conducted its own independent investigation into the empowerment deal but is yet to release the report. This was followed by an announcement that the SEC would also investigate the transaction in which it has been alleged Gold Fields was forced to accept Invictus Gold as a partner in South Deep if it were to have its mining licence application granted.
Former Gold Fields chairperson, Mamphela Ramphele, told BDLive earlier this year that the government had “shoved Invictus Gold down Gold Fields’ throat”. BDLive cited Ramphele as saying she would cooperate with an investigation by the Hawks.
Included in Invictus Gold are African National Congress (ANC) chairwoman Baleka Mbete, Limpho Hani, wife of late South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani; Jerome Brauns SC, who represented President Jacob Zuma during his rape trial; former Springbok Ashwin Willemse; and Mandla Msimang, son of party stalwarts Mendi Msimang and the late Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
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