Diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg reportedly arrested as Hawks swoop on investment scammers

John Maytham interviews Lieutenant-Colonel Philani Nkwalase, spokesperson for the Hawks.

Diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg and his wife Dezzi were reportedly arrested at a Gauteng restaurant on Tuesday night, in connection with a diamond investment scam.

The pair are said to be among nine suspects netted in a Hawks operation carried out over two days in Gauteng and North West.

Liebenberg is known as a benefactor of former president Jacob Zuma.

John Maytham talks to Lieutenant-Colonel Philani Nkwalase, spokesperson for the Hawks.

Colonel Nkwalase says investors - both inside and outside South Africa - were scammed out of a total amount of more than R4 billion.

The arrests are the culmination of a five-year investigation, carried out in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

"The majority of the cases that the Hawks are involved in are prosecution-guided investigations, so we've worked hand in glove with the NPA on this matter since 2019."

"Of course we had to ensure that we follow the money and intercept some of these activities.... in that process we collected evidence that ensured that we secure the arrest of the suspects, and secure them for court attendance."

Lieutenant-Colonel Philani Nkwalase, Spokesperson - Hawks

Nkwalase says the nine suspects face a range of charges including fraud, money laundering, theft, and racketeering.

"The racketeering has to do with the fact that they operated as a business syndicate, so to speak."

"These criminal activities were advertised on social media, and potential investors were lured and made to believe they'd get lucrative returns on their investment which never materialised."

Lieutenant-Colonel Philani Nkwalase, Spokesperson - Hawks

The suspects are set to appear in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 24 October.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview with the Hawks spokesperson