SIPHO MASOMBUKA | 21 October, 2013 00:32
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Image by: Reuben Goldberg
As a police hunt for four men in connection with what appears to have been a hit on top forensic auditor Lawrence Moepi, the Association of Public Accounts Committees of SA has called for protection for members.
TThe chairman of the association, Sipho Makama, said Moepi's murder was just the tip of the ice-berg.
"It is a threat to [all forensic auditors] and might lead to the industry losing quality auditors because they fear for their lives," Makama said.
Moepi, head of the forensic services unit at accounting and auditing firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo, was shot dead as he got out of his car at the firm's Houghton offices, in Johannesburg, on Friday morning.
The 41-year-old father of two was reportedly involved in a number of big investigations and was part of the team probing the multibillion-rand government arms deal.
Moepi was also part of the team investigating the sale of Cosatu's headquarters in Braamfontein for R10-million less than the market value.
Makama said attempts to intimidate forensic auditors were on the increase.
"[Auditors] must be protected and have a close relationship with law-enforcement agencies during the pursuit of their investigations until finalisation," he said.
He said Moepi's killing was "heinous, diabolical and cowardly".
He urged Moepi's colleagues to continue to work hard to rid the private and public sectors of corruption.
"We will continue to engage with law enforcement agencies and other Chapter 9 institutions about finding solutions to the issues that seem to impede the attainment of transparency, accountability and oversight in both the public and private sectors," Makama said.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungile Dlamini yesterday said no arrests had been made.
"We are looking for four men in a VW Golf Gti," Dlamini said.
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