By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System heard further testimony from Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, the SAPS Divisional Commissioner for Crime Intelligence.
Khumalo continued with his testimony while a cloud of uncertainty hangs over his tenure as the Crime Intelligence boss.
Two weeks after falling ill at the Commission – prompting an immediate postponement of his testimony – Khumalo appeared alongside two of his co-accused in the Pretoria Regional Court in an ongoing fraud and corruption case.
Khumalo and five other senior Crime Intelligence officials are charged with fraud and corruption related to the appointment of 30-year-old Dineo Mokwele to an executive position within the unit, despite her not having any previous policing experience.
During today’s proceedings, Khumalo told the commission that the investigative methods used by the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) should serve as a model for the rest of the country.
Khumalo said the task team had moved beyond traditional investigative methods and adopted an “analysis-driven and prosecutorial-led investigation “methodology to investigate criminal syndicates.
He said he made the recommendation to provincial police commissioners, the interministerial committee on policing, and the ministry of police, arguing that the unit’s approach represented “a new way of investigating organised crime”.
“We recommended that this methodology be used as a benchmark to try and change the way we are investigating crime because our traditional way is still suitable for normal crime, but when it comes to organised crime, the same traditional ways are not suitable,” said Khumalo.
Khumalo told the commission that murder of an engineer, believed to be a Transnet whistleblower, Armand Swart, on 17 April 2024, served as the catalyst for the reforms he later recommended.
Swart, who worked for Q Tech, was killed two weeks after the company raised concerns about suspicious procurement at Transnet, involving a bolt spring sold for R3.20 to SK Group and resold to the state-owned entity for R152 per unit for an order of 8 000.
“This is the operation that served as a catalyst for the whole discussion of my testimony, “said Khumalo.
Khumalo said the investigation into Swart’s murder led to the creation of the Gauteng Organised Crime Investigation Operation (GCI Ops) — a combined counter intelligence and organised crime initiative designed to strengthen investigative capacity and coordination.
He said that when the investigation went up the ladder, it revealed that one of the hitmen was a serving police officer at the Johannesburg Central Police Station.
“We’ve picked up that the hit coordinators, as well as the hit orderers, have adopted this new way of recruiting the serving members of SAPS to serve as hitmen.”
However, he said Swart’s murder was the result of mistaken identity, but the subsequent investigation revealed links between the suspects, Vusimuzi Matlala, Katiso Moelefe, Johannesburg senior police officials, Mchunu and deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
He said the arrest of Warrant Officer Pule Tau, a Johannesburg police officer implicated in Swart’s killing, did not come as a surprise.
“Cartels prefer to recruit members with experience with the criminal justice system, including police officers, “he said.
The Commission also saw the CCTV footage showing Sergeant F.E. Nkosi arriving at the luxury Sandhurst home of Molefe, shortly after 4pm on 27 November last year.
Nine minutes later, Nkosi is seen being escorted by Molefe back to his state vehicle, a white BMW, while carrying a large white paper bag.
Khumalo, alluded to the contents of the bag possibly being bribe money.
“He is having a bag that does not look like it’s that heavy but it has got some contents. The picture is like he just came in to collect something that was already packed and waiting for pickup.”
Just ten days after Nkosi’s visit to Molefe’s home, Molefe was arrested by members of GCIOPS and the PKTT in a take-down operation that was allegedly riddled with interference by the Hawks.
Nkosi, a member attached to Organised Crime in Gauteng, was reporting to suspended deputy national police commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya.
Nkosi was previously named as a middleman in money dealings between Sibiya and Matlala.
Khumalo also walked the commission through detailed footage showing Sibiya behind the wheel of a Toyota Hilux bakkie registered in the name of Schanick Stuart James — a man with an extensive criminal record.
He described the findings as deeply concerning, saying it points to a dangerous pattern in which senior police officials appear to maintain close ties with known criminal suspects.
Khumalo warned that such revelations could demoralize investigators, who may fear for their safety when suspects enjoy protection from powerful figures.
The commission continues to hear evidence into allegations that organised criminal cartels have infiltrated both the South African Police Services and the State Security Agency, compromising national security in the process.