By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Madlanga commission of inquiry has been hearing evidence partially in camera from three detectives who investigated crimes linked to criminal cartels.
According to the commission, the witnesses to be referred to as A, B and C will take the stand off camera from a remote location but with their voices audible.
The commission is investigating allegations of criminality, corruption and political interference in the justice system.
During the proceedings, Witness A, a police investigator in the Gauteng organised crime unit, testified that the arrest of murder suspect and alleged leader of the “Big Five” cartel, Katiso “KT” Molefe, at his Sandhurst home was disrupted by high-ranking officials who appeared to be protecting him.
Molefe, who was wanted in connection with multiple crimes and the contract killing of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart, called another police officer for assistance during the operation, claiming he was “scared” by the police intrusion.
Subsequently, Witness A received a call from “a known person”, who he did not want to identify, with a warning that he was arresting “a person of the generals” — referring to deputy national police commissioner for crime detection Shadrack Sibiya. Moments later, Witness A testified, a team from the Hawks division arrived on the scene in a helicopter.
“It is unheard of that officials from different divisions and units would arrive at a private residence where a takedown of an operation is under way and attempt to interfere, “Witness A told the commission.
He said the presence of the Hawks team was a clear attempt to obstruct his unit’s lawful operation.
“If there were real concerns that the operation was illegal, for whatever reason on their side, I would not expect an entire team from [the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation] with a helicopter to descend on us and try to stop the operation,” he said.
Witness A said Molefe was eventually detained at Pretoria Central police station as a “high-risk” and “high-profile” individual, but the interference demonstrated how influential his reach was within the police service.
The witness’s testimony adds another layer to the emerging picture of the crisis in South Africa’s police and intelligence structures, which have been exposed both at the commission chaired by retired judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga and before parliament’s ad hoc committee which is undertaking a parallel probe into police corruption.
Witness A told the Madlanga commission that Sibiya was unhappy with Molefe’s arrest and warned that the team involved could face charges. He also alleged pressure from Gauteng head of organised crime Richard Shibiri, who invited him to a birthday party at Sibiya’s farm — an invitation Witness A turned down.
Witness A said Shibiri had been promoted by Sibiya and understood he had to keep him happy. He added that he suspected Shibiri had been compromised, alleging that Sibiya requested updates about the murder of Swart whose assassination in April 2024 led to Molefe’s arrest.
The Swart case, which Witness A investigated, has become central to infighting in police service.
Tension escalated when 10 members of a task team investigating political killings were deployed from KwaZulu-Natal to assist the Gauteng organised crime unit.
Shibiri also told Witness A about the links between Sibiya, EFF leader Julius Malema, and one guy who is a close friend of Malema.
“During a call with General Shibiri, he told me that Molefe was part of a group of five individuals with interests in mining in the North West province. And that one of those guys belongs to a group of aboMswazi naboMthakathi (Mswazi and Mthakathi). That is him saying the names now. He also said another guy, a Zulu guy, a tall guy, describing him to me, he is known as Ze, who stays in Sandton, who I understood from him to be Ze Nxumalo,” Witness A stated.
“He (Shibiri) said Ze is a close friend of Julius Malema, who is a politician, who then tends to be close to General Sibiya. So, he (Shibiri) was connecting the person that we arrested (Molefe) to Ze, and then Ze to Julius Malema, and then Julius Malema, who is a friend, to General Sibiya, the deputy national commissioner. Now, he (Shibiri) is painting a picture that I should be aware that this is how the chain goes.”
Swart worked for QTech in Vereeniging, where he uncovered multimillion-rand tender irregularities in a Transnet tender. He was fatally shot in Vereeniging on the morning of April 17, 2024, in what has now been confirmed as a mistaken identity hit.