The Hawks have squashed rumours that spread in the province on Wednesday that public safety MEC Nono Maloyi had been arrested in connection with ANC activist, Obuti Chika’s murder.

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter were abuzz with allegations that Maloyi had become the second high ranking ANC official to be arrested for the murder.

This came on the back of ANC deputy provincial chairperson China Dodovu’s arrest on Monday.

However, Hawks spokesperson Capt Paul Ramaloko said there was still room for more arrests in the case.

“I can confirm that no other MEC has been arrested in this case but we are not ruling out the possibility of further arrests. We are still investigating the case and that may lead to the arrest of more suspects,” he said.

Maloyi’s office also came out with a statement castigating the rumours as cheap and unfounded.

Public safety department spokesperson Simon Mmope said Maloyi was considering opening a defamation suit against anyone found to have started the rumour.

“The department wishes to put it on record that the MEC is highly on duty and is proceeding with his day-to-day programme of government. We would like to dismiss all allegations and put it on record that they are all lies and propaganda. The MEC is a law abiding citizen who will never be part of any form of illegal activity,” said Mmope.

He added that the rumour was an unfortunate disturbance on governance and an attack on Maloyi’s good name.

“The MEC has vowed to trace the source of these unfounded and malicious allegations. He has been advised to open a case of crimen injuria with the police,” Mmope said.

Maloyi is said to have called on the police to speedily resolve the investigation around Chika’s murder “without fear or favour and let justice take its course”.

Meanwhile, Dodovu, together with seven other suspects, were remanded in custody until next week, when a ruling on their bail application would be heard.

Ramaloko said the State would oppose the bail applications of all the suspects.
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