By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Retired Hawks colonel Kobus Roelofse testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that IDAC head Andrea Johnson interfered in the assault case against South African Police Services (SAPS) Major General Feroz Khan.
Johnson sent Khan the complainant’s statement, the J88 medical report, and an audio recording of Khan taken at the time of the incident. At that stage, Khan had not been charged, and no decision had been made on whether to prosecute.
His evidence centred on claims that Johnson improperly involved herself in a 2018 criminal complaint against Khan.
At the time, Johnson was a senior prosecutor with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
According to Roelofse, the matter only came to his attention in 2022 after an unnamed female colonel reported concerns about interactions between Johnson and Khan.
As part of the investigation, Roelofse interviewed former journalist and AfriForum communications manager, Barry Bateman, who had been in possession of documents related to a complaint of assault and intimidation lodged by former Crime Intelligence officer Manana Leonora Phetlhe against Khan.
Bateman indicated that Johnson had approached him requesting the material, though he could not recall her reasons.
Roelofse described a key incident from 4 July 2018, when the colonel – who shared office space with Khan – was instructed to provide her private email address during a phone call facilitated by Khan.
Shortly afterwards, Johnson sent an email containing sensitive case information, including Phetlhe’s statement, a J88 medical report, and an audio recording linked to the alleged assault which occurred on 26 June 2018.
The colonel was allegedly instructed to delete the email after sharing its contents with Khan.
Instead, she printed the material and handed it to him in an envelope, retaining the original message.
Roelofse told the commission that Khan received the documents just one day before Hawks investigators were scheduled to take his warning statement.
He argued that this sequence of events undermined the integrity of the investigation, as it may have allowed Khan to align his version of events with the available evidence.
The commission’s chairperson, Mbuyiseli Madlanga, described the conduct as “impropriety”.
Hawks Captain Mark McClean, also testified that the Lieutenant-Colonel only identified as Witness O was instructed to show Khan, an email to Khan relating to a 2018 assault case against him and then immediately delete it.
McLean was the second witness to testify on Friday, largely corroborating the evidence of retired Roelofse.
Witness N: A South African Police Service (SAPS) detective attached to the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) testified about criminal conduct and extortion involving Sunil Bellichan, a senior investigator at the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
She told the commission that Pakistani national, Asif Habib Mohammad, who was introduced to her by South African Police Service (SAPS) Eastern Cape Director of Community Safety, Niel Naidoo, alleged that Bellochun, had extorted him and other Pakistani shop owners and physically assaulted them.
Witness N said the allegations, together with a R400 000 fraud charge involving Bellochun, remain under investigation.
According to her evidence, Mohammad alleged that Bellochun assaulted him on 27 September 2025, leaving him with a broken nose and damaged teeth.
Witness N said Mohammad made the allegations during a meeting attended by herself, Naidoo and several members of the PKTT.
Witness N further alleged that Mohammad told investigators he and several other Pakistani businessmen, who allegedly had entered South Africa illegally, were fraudulently provided with official documentation with Bellochun’s assistance.
She also testified that Mohammad claimed he witnessed suspicious activity while staying at Bellochun’s property, alleging that televisions and other household appliances were frequently delivered there.