Frank Dutton

Frank Dutton was awarded the Order of the Baobab in Gold in 2012. Photo: GCIS/Flickr

Frank Dutton dies at 72: State Capture lead investigator was a ‘fearless warrior for justice’

Former Scorpions boss and world-renowned investigator Frank Dutton died of a stroke at the age of 72.

Frank Dutton

Frank Dutton was awarded the Order of the Baobab in Gold in 2012. Photo: GCIS/Flickr

Frank Dutton, a former police officer and esteemed investigator, died at the age of 72 on Thursday, 20 January, after suffering a stroke. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Dutton was one of South Africa’s “fearless warriors for justice and the rule of law.”

FEARLESS FRANK DUTTON DIES AT 72

Dutton was recently involved as the lead investigator for the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture before joining the NPA’s Investigating Directorate (ID). “He was a seasoned and highly skilled investigator who worked for SAPS for 40 years,” said the National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi.

Throughout his career, Dutton investigated people guilty of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during apartheid. He was also called upon by the United Nations to do the same in Bosnia and Croatia before being asked to return to South Africa.

During apartheid, Dutton was involved in the exposure of South African Police Force “hit squads” and the arrest of Eugene “Prime Evil” de Kock,

In 1995 as the head of the TRC Task Unit he arrested former apartheid Minister of Defence Magnus Malan in connection with the KwaMakhutha massacre of 1987.

Upon his return to the country, Dutton was appointed as the first commander of the Scorpions – the now-disbanded elite police unit within the NPA.

“Mr Dutton’s work investigating ‘cold’ cases from the apartheid era, paving the way for the reopening of the inquests into the deaths in detention of Ahmed Timol and Neil Aggett, as well as the indictment relating to the murder of Nokuthula Simelane,” said Batohi.

Frank Dutton was bestowed the Order of the Baobab in Gold – the second-highest order in South Africa – in 2012.

According to the Presidency, Dutton was awarded for “His exceptional contribution to and achievement in his investigative work as a dedicated and loyal policeman, for exposing the apartheid government’s “Third Force”; for his role in working for peace in KwaZulu-Natal; his international work in investigating and exposing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Bosnia‚ Kosovo and Darfur; and assisting in establishing the causes of violence in East Timor and Sudan.”

The NPA said Dutton is an inspiration and his legacy will be with the State as it continues “the huge task” of responding to the findings of the State Capture Report and holding those responsible for corruption to account.

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