26-05-2025
Hawks reward top officers with excellence awards
A Hawks police officer who secured conviction of a former official in the KwaZulu-Natal premier's office who faked his qualifications has bagged the best commercial crime investigator award of the year.
W/O Nhlanhla Phetha, 46, based in Pietermaritzburg, said he was overwhelmed by the accolade at the excellence awards on Friday.
'This tells me it's only the beginning of my journey. I have to put more effort into my job. It does not end here,' said Phetha.
Mlekeleli Masondo, 45, who submitted fraudulent qualifications, was sentenced to six years for fraud.
'I soldiered on until I reached a stage where he wanted to come clean,' said Phetha. 'After pleading an agreement was reached between Masondo and the state.'
Another investigation which led to him winning was a case in which he investigated a Pietermaritzburg loan shark business which flouted the law prescribed by the National Credit Regulator.
