A senior South African police officer narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Pretoria early this morning, casting fresh scrutiny on British-funded anti-corruption training programmes in the country. Colonel Thabo Mokoena, a key figure in the elite Hawks unit, was ambushed by unknown gunmen outside his home at approximately 6 a.m.
local time. Mokoena sustained minor injuries and is in stable condition. The attack comes as the UK’s Foreign Office reviews its counter-corruption capacity-building initiatives in South Africa, which have been criticised for failing to prevent internal leaks and security breaches.
Sources within the Metropolitan Police have expressed concern that British advisors may have inadvertently exposed Mokoena’s operational methods during training sessions. The UK government has declined to comment, pending a full security assessment. The incident is likely to complicate bilateral efforts to combat organised crime in the region.
