Hawks gun for Gwede Mantashe, Mcebisi Jonas and Zweli Mkhize

The political fallout over the public protector’s State of Capture report has taken a new turn with the Hawks revealing that they are now pursuing Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas‚ ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and party treasurer Zweli Mkhize‚ the Sunday Times newspaper reported.

It said the three were being probed for failing to report Jonas’s sensational claim that one of the Gupta brothers‚ Ajay‚ offered him a R600-million bribe and the finance minister post.

Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi had confirmed the investigation and said they were waiting for the National Prosecuting Authority to advise on how to proceed with the matter.

The move is seen as part of a fightback strategy by President Jacob Zuma’s supporters‚ who are resisting growing calls for him to step down following the release of the damning report‚ the newspaper reported.