Cape Town - The Hawks are reportedly trying to force Marianne Thamm to reveal the identity of the source she used to for a story about a top KZN cop being promoted despite being implicated at the state capture inquiry.
"Sanef understands that the Hawks are attempting, via South African Police Service (SAPS) in KwaZulu-Natal, to force Daily Maverick journalist Marianne Thamm to reveal her sources," the South African National Editors’ Forum said on Friday.
In her article, which was published on June 18, Thamm wrote that Colonel WS "Welcome" Mhlongo from the KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, who has been implicated in Zondo Commission testimony for allegedly tipping off criminals about the directorate’s investigations, had been appointed acting Provincial Commander of the Serious Organised Crime unit in the province.
According to Sanef, Mhlongo laid charges against Thamm at the Durban Central police station after the article's publication and she was subsequently contacted by an investigating officer who wanted her to reveal her sources.
The Hawks are now investigating the alleged theft of documents and the disclosure of information which according to police was exclusively meant for use by SAPS, said Sanef.