By Levy Masiteng
City Power has lodged an urgent court interdict against the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, giving them until the end of Tuesday to indicate whether they will oppose the application.
The move follows what the utility has described as the unlawful execution of a search warrant issued last week.
The Hawks raided City Power’s headquarters, seeking information on several contracts, including a R67 million purchase order for electricity transformers that were allegedly paid for but never delivered.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the utility is not opposed to lawful investigations and has been cooperating with the Hawks since November 2024.
However, he raised concerns about the manner in which the raid was conducted.
“We view that conduct as an attempt to embarrass the entity and its leadership, raising concerns about motive, duplication of resources for certain gain, and procedural irregularities,” Mangena said.
He added that the interdict seeks to halt the validity of the warrant and challenge its execution.
“We believe in fairness as a key tenet of administrative justice and maintain that investigations must follow lawful and transparent procedures that respect constitutional rights and the rule of law—something the Hawks failed to demonstrate in this matter,” Mangena said.
According to Inside Politics, this is not the first clash between City Power and the Hawks this year.
In July, the utility came under investigation for alleged corruption involving irregular payments and inflated contracts worth more than R500 million, with CEO Tshifularo Mashava emerging as a central figure in the probe.
In response, City Power said it welcomed lawful inquiries aimed at ensuring clean administration, transparency, and ethical governance.
The urgent application will be heard on Tuesday, with City Power also calling on the Hawks to preserve any material already seized until the court makes its ruling.
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