Johannesburg - Businessman Kenny Kunene has received unofficial warnings from the Hawks that it would be investigating him, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said on Thursday.
“There are people who have called him from the Hawks, but not officially,” EFF spokesman Floyd Shivambu said.
“The people said that there could be an investigation (into him).”
Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko said he could not comment on “speculation”.
“If Kunene becomes a subject of an investigation, he will be officially informed by the Hawks,” he said.
Shivambu said in a statement on Thursday that there had been attempts to intimidate Kunene “through bogus investigations and threats of the Hawks”.
The Sunday World reported this week that an investigation was being co-ordinated from the office of Brigadier Lesley McFinn of the Gauteng Hawks.
It reported that the investigation emanated from Kunene's dealings with investors who claimed to have been conned into supporting an application for mining rights by Central Rand Gold (CRG).
Kunene was reportedly CRG's community liaison, and was instrumental in securing the rights.
Last year, the Sunday Times reported that CRG had allegedly misled investors with lucrative tenders, share offers, and directorships in an attempt to secure their backing.
This week Kunene said in a statement published on a politics website he had been warned not to criticise President Jacob Zuma.
Kunene said he had been told he would be “dealt with” after he published an open letter to Zuma last month, saying he was disillusioned with his leadership.
“I got so many calls from people warning me: 'They are going to deal with you'. People know this is a government that 'deals with people'. But is that something we are willing to just accept?”
Kunene confirmed he was joining the EFF alongside ousted African National Congress Youth League leader Julius Malema.
Shivimbu said on Thursday Kunene was part of the “fearless young lions in the Free State who rendered the apartheid machinery unworkable and apartheid system ungovernable”.
“Even when he was on the wrong side of the law, fighter Kunene was part of efforts that exposed prison corruption and was released a changed man who did motivational talks and ran anti-crime campaigns in many schools across South Africa,” he said.
“It is that form of courage and dedication that welcomes him into our ranks of fearless fighters.” - Sapa