Graham Coetzer stepped into the heart of Hawks operations driven by a desire to interrogate and understand law enforcement officers and share their harsh realities.
The Hawks are South Africa's elite crime-fighting force, but their machinations remain largely veiled, with only a few successes heard through the media.
Investigative journalist Graham Coetzer's debut book, hunting with hawkspierces this veil and offers readers an up-close look at the high-stakes world in which the Hawks operate, far from the public eye.
The book paints a detailed portrait of not only an organization dedicated to rounding up criminals, but also the tenacious individuals inside who navigate constant danger and political intrigue to uphold justice.
The Priority Crime Directorate, better known as the Hawks, was established in 2008 to replace the Scorpions, which was disbanded by former president Jakon Zuma. Over the past decade and a half, the unit has often been criticized by the media and opposition parties as a devoted stooge of the former ANC leadership and parliament. Coetzer said that's not a rule.
“People often look at Hawks as the successor to the Scorpions' sophomore acquisition,” he said. “This book is not about the Hawks as a team, but about the individuals within the organization who are dedicated to getting the job done. And they do so despite lacking resources or in dangerous situations. , they often do,” he noted.
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Coetzer's journey into the heart of Hawks operations was driven by a desire to interrogate, understand, and share the harsh realities of law enforcement.
“I don't think people realize how interesting many of these cases are,” he says, sharing these stories in his book. From tracking down an international rhino horn syndicate to unraveling South Africa's biggest cash heist. “There are some incredible stories,” he said. And he shares them.
The author spent months researching the book, which he said was a daunting task, visiting Hawks offices across the country to gather material. “Getting all the permits right was probably one of the most difficult parts behind the scenes,” Coetzer says. Gaining the access he needed to bring these stories to light was a test of his patience, but as an investigative journalist first and foremost, he never gave up.
Many say crime in South Africa has reached unprecedented levels, adding further urgency to the Hawks' mission. “To say it's overwhelmed is putting it lightly,” Coetzer said of the current state of law enforcement in South Africa.
“We certainly don't have enough police to deal with the crime situation in this country.'' The list of criminals and criminals is long, with negative impacts such as nepotism, corruption, mismanagement, and budget constraints. He said it has become even more important to recognize the efforts of those who continue to strive for justice against all odds.
“The Hawks have a duty to consider priority crimes – any crime that the Hawks' national representative considers to be a priority in South Africa,” he said. “They primarily focus on serious organized crime, serious commercial crime and high-profile corruption cases.”
The book includes nine different stories, and Coetzer said he loved every minute of it while putting it together. This is his debut work.
“It has been my goal for many years to write and publish a book,” he said, adding that each story touches on a different methodology employed by investigators to catch criminals.
Coetzer also hopes that hunting with the Hawks will go a long way toward challenging and ultimately changing public perceptions of police. “This is not really a PR exercise for SAPS,” he said.
“It's so easy to criticize the police, and in many cases they deserve it. But I hope this book gives readers a sense of what it's like to be on the front lines of the fight against crime.” I am confident that it will give people a deeper understanding of what is going on,” he said.
“This is a dark, lonely place and a truly thankless job. We are grateful to the people who carried out the job.”
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