South African Hawks say Wicknell Chivayo is not under investigation

South Africa's Hawks have confirmed they have no active investigation involving Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, while News24 has apologised for an earlier inaccurate report.

HARARE – South Africa's elite crime-fighting unit, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks, says it has no active investigation involving Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, contradicting widespread speculation that followed reports about financial transactions linked to Zimbabwe's 2023 election procurement. The clarification is likely to disappoint public finance accountability campaigners in Zimbabwe, who had hoped South African authorities would pursue the matter after local anti-corruption investigations were closed without criminal charges.

The controversy stems from Zimbabwe's 2023 general elections, during which a company linked to Chivayo received contracts reportedly worth more than R1.6 billion to supply election materials, including ballot papers, biometric voter registration equipment and stationery. Despite public concern over the procurement process, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) previously said it found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in its investigations.

Attention later shifted to South Africa after the country's Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) reportedly flagged transactions amounting to more than R800 million from election contractor Ren-Form CC to accounts associated with Chivayo. However, the Hawks have now confirmed that no criminal case involving Chivayo exists on their system. Speaking to News24, Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said:

"The DPCI has no such case [on Chivayo] in our system."

The DPCI is the specialised investigative arm of the South African Police Service (SAPS) responsible for probing priority crimes, including organised crime, serious commercial offences, corruption and money laundering. The clarification follows an earlier statement from South Africa's Presidency, which, without naming Chivayo directly, indicated that the businessman was under police investigation while distancing President Cyril Ramaphosa from him.

The issue attracted further public attention after Chivayo travelled on the same helicopter as Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Emmerson Mnangagwa during Ramaphosa's visit to Zimbabwe in May. South African officials later said Chivayo had been invited by President Mnangagwa rather than the South African delegation. The Financial Intelligence Centre has also clarified that it is not a criminal investigative agency.

Instead, the FIC gathers and analyses financial intelligence before sharing reports with law enforcement agencies and other competent authorities for possible investigation or asset recovery proceedings where appropriate. Meanwhile, News24 has apologised to Chivayo after publishing a report stating that he was under investigation by both the FIC and the Hawks for alleged money laundering. Following legal correspondence from Chivayo's legal team, led by advocates Dali Mpofu and Eric Mabuza, the publication acknowledged its error.

"News24 apologises for the error," the publication said after stating that it had incorrectly reported Chivayo was under investigation by the FIC and Hawks.

Chivayo's lawyers argued that the only legal proceedings involving their client in South Africa relate to civil divorce litigation with his estranged wife. They said the dispute concerns interim preservation orders over certain assets and does not involve criminal allegations or fraud investigations. According to the lawyers, assets including the private jet registered as ZAS-ACT belong to Intratrek Holdings, where Chivayo serves as a shareholder and director, rather than to him in his personal capacity.

The legal team also clarified that an earlier order issued by the Pretoria High Court was a rule nisi, an interim order granted without Chivayo initially being heard. They said the matter has since been argued before the court, with judgment still pending. Welcoming the Hawks' clarification and News24's correction, Chivayo's lawyers said the developments vindicated their client. They added that they reserved the right to pursue legal action against parties who continue to publish claims that he is under criminal investigation. Chivayo has recently announced plans for multi-million-dollar investments in Kenya, Eswatini and Tanzania, following meetings with leaders in those countries.

Wicknell Chivayo investigation