By: Buhle Mbhele
Day 2 of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system had a focus on the 121 Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) dockets and the names of attempted murder accused businessman Vusumuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, murder accused Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe, DA member of parliament Dianne Kohler Barnard, and another member of Parliament, Fadiel Adams, among the prominent persons mentioned.
KZN Police Commissioner Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi began his second day of hearings, expanding on the 121 PKTT dockets. On Wednesday ahead of adjournment, Advocate Khumalo SC asked for clarity from Mkhwanazi about the dockets around developments following the dispatchment of the letter disbanding the task team; this opened the floor for the PC to start his testimony for the day.
Mkhwanazi explains that there was no formal communication regarding the disbandment of the task team, which resulted in them continuing their work in Gauteng; however, the team was reduced as some returned to their stations.
Mkhwanazi further adds that he did not take any steps to disband the task team. The letter in question, dated 31 December 2024, landed on Mkhwanazi’s disposal on 2 January 2025, while National Commissioner Fanie Masemola went on leave till 14 January and had informed Mkhwanazi that he did not participate in the decision of de-establishing the task team, as the letter was issued by Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Intelligence Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya.
It also emerged during this part of the testimony that the task team had the political killings files till April with the hopes that the decision would be overturned.
“It’s a limitation from me to explain in detail the movement of these dockets to the head office because I was not the one that moved them; the team who handed the dockets to the office will come and explain the process followed, including the scanning of the dockets.
My involvement was during a briefing in May that the 121 dockets are already in Pretoria, and it came to my attention that General Khumalo made that directive.” said Mkhwanazi.
Furthermore, Mkhwanazi now gets to unpack the role of several people in criminal activities in state entities and how they are each linked to the other. He begins by alleging that there are activities taking place at the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) which are not in line with the purpose of the entity.
“There are two structures there, a good one and a malicious one aimed at distracting the work done at IDAC,” said Mkhwanazi.
The KZN Commissioner now details the role of the people alleged to have collaborated with the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, in unethical activities. His first name to drop is MP Fadiel Adams, whom he says has unauthorised access to intelligence information and his use thereof. He further adds that Adams abuses his influence on police structures at the highest echelon. Mkhwanazi also describes Adams as ‘reckless’ in his job.
Next was DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard’s name; Mkhwanazi describes her as a veteran who knows what belongs where in Parliament.
“She is one of the leaders in our legislature that is participating in both breaking the law as well as fuelling these malicious attacks which are happening within crime intelligence and ultimately directed at General Khumalo as head of intelligence,” said Mkhwanazi.
He further adds that he requested an audience at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry to discuss these issues but was never invited.
Brown Mokgotsi is the next name to drop; Mkhwanazi alleges that he is a close associate of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, and he confirmed this through the Chief of Staff at the office of the Minister.
Mkhwanazi says Mokgotsi is linked to the underworld and flagged Mchunu’s denial of Mokgotsi in Parliament, but later, through a leaked phone call recording, he admits to knowing him as a ‘comrade’.
On 30 September 2024, Mkhwanazi received a WhatsApp message from Mokgotsi, warning him of an attempt to discredit him through a case of defeating the ends of justice that had been opened against him in Empangeni, in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
“Mr Brown Mokgotsi, he starts by sending me a message about the basis for this attempt to open a case against me, and he attaches a copy of a screenshot of a police occurrence book of Empangeni SAPS, which is a police station serving the Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, as he lives about 5 km from it. I’ve already been told he’s linked to the minister; that’s why I’m linking the minister to it,” said Mkhwanazi
Mkhwanazi’s testimony now moves to law enforcement agencies, where we hear about detained businessmen Vusumuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, Katiso ‘Kat’ Molefe, Suliman Karim, Mike Van Wyk and Mr Rafadi.
Mkhwanazi told the commission that Matlala has been enjoying the perks of law enforcement, as about 4 or 5 of his vehicles were registered with blue lights by deputy chief of police in Ekurhuleni Julius Mkhwanazi under the municipality. He references the Traffic Act on the use of blue lights and adds that this issue was raised with the municipality, but nothing happened.
Molefe’s name makes it the spotlight now; Mkhwanazi narrates that on 5 February 2025, JMPD close associate Johannes Makgatle deposited a statement during the GCI ops probe against Molefe. He was approached because he was present when Molefe was nabbed in July this year.
He says Armand Swart murder accused Pule Tau hooked up Makgatle with Molefe, and to verify this, officers who took Makgatle’s statements will come and testify at the commission. He further alleges that Makgatle renewed and/or registered licences for Molefe’s vehicles with a reward.
As Mkhwanazi concluded his testimony on Day 2, he touched on Karim, Van Wyk, and Mr. Rafadi.
He says Karim directly communicated with Matlala on the R360 million police contract, where Matlala asked for his assistance with meeting the minister to try to stop cancellation of the contracts, which Karim facilitated.
Mkhwanazi further adds there was movement of funds during this time. On Van Wyk, he says he is Matlala’s business partner and is the person who, while the attempted murder accused was in prison before being found with a phone, communicated that “my person is going to the National Commissioner now.”
Lastly is DPCI’s Mr Rafadi, whom Mkhwanazi tells the commission that on 11 February 2025, Rafadi and Matlala spoke about a post for DPCI Head, which was to be vacant as the then leader was to go for retirement.
Mkhwanazi says through this conversation, it emerged that Matlala told Rafadi that this gig will be given to General Sibiya. Mkhwanazi ended by highlighting that Mchunu is responsible for hiring in such positions as minister, which brings about concern as to how Matlala knew about this information, not forgetting his tie to the minister.
On Friday the commission focuses on political interference as well as unpacking Mr Mokgotsi’s part, which was left hanging on Thursday.
