The ANC said it hoped the simultaneous raids by the Hawks on Free State premier Ace Magashule's offices and the provincial department of agriculture would be "speedily resolved" and that guilty individuals would face the "full might of the law."
"At this point in time, besides the principal standpoint that we have, which says we will oppose and fight any instances of corruption, we are not in a position to comment any further," ANC spokesperson Khusela Diko said.
Diko added that the party had not yet met to discuss the recent search-and-seizure warrants.
"We trust that this matter [will] be speedily resolved... And that those who are found guilty [will] face the full right of the law," she said.
She also said that the integrity committee was not an investigative body but instead seeked to protect the integrity of the party.
"Should the integrity committee decide to take up this matter of the raids or alternatively the matter is referred by any member of the ANC, then the committee would be able to look at the matter at hand and make a decision. "
She would not comment further.
Earlier Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, the Hawks' spokesperson, confirmed that they were executing search-and-seizure warrants at Free State premier offices and provincial department of agriculture.
The operation is related to the Gupta-linked Vrede dairy farm.
"We have now begun with the search-and-seizure and will go and analyse all the documents with the NPA's assistance. The NPA will therefore make a decision based on what we have submitted," he said.
BREAKING #StateCapture the Hawks have confirmed they are at this hour executing search and seizure warrants at the Free State office of the premier as well as the Agriculture Department. More to follow... BB
— Barry Bateman (@barrybateman) January 26, 2018
It's happening now, the Hawks are in the office of the Premier and Department of Agriculture in Free State conducting search and seizures of the documents and computers in relation to the Vrede Dairy matter. #Aaaaaaaaaaaace
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) January 26, 2018
Spokesperson for Magashule's office, Tiisetso Makhele, said they would cooperate.
"The office of the premier... will cooperate with all law-enforcement processes taking place... We are still busy engaging with processes." He could not comment further and asked HuffPost call him later, as he was busy.