Fin24 reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) on Friday said it was "taken aback" by the Hawks' decision to cooperate with the FBI's investigation into the Gupta family.  

"Allegations of state capture and corruption have been a topical issue of concern for many South Africans and beyond, yet our own institutions have chosen to downplay it for so long, only to agree to cooperate with the FBI recently," the union said in a statement.  Popcru said there was still no sign of investigations into the Gupta family taking place within the country and that it was "disheartening and unacceptable" that no one had been questioned about the alleged influence the Gupta family had on state businesses.  The Guptas, who have close relations with President Jacob Zuma, have consistently denied any wrongdoing.  "The fact that the FBI looks to be far ahead with investigations into the Gupta family while our own Hawks have for so long failed to act on this issue that immensely affects us can only demonstrate that we either have a weak or captured intelligence service, or, at worst, a weak and captured service," the union stated.

• Read this report by Jeanette Chabalala in full at Fin24
• See too, FBI probe into the Guptas could have extensive reach, at Business Report

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page