KT Molefe
Brigadier Lesiba Mokoena admitted to misleading a commission by denying his role in a WhatsApp group coordinating the controversial arrest of Katiso “KT” Molefe. He later conceded to sharing information through the group, as evidence revealed interference by Hawks members in a lawful police operation.
Brigadier Lesiba Mokoena, who instructed Hawks members to attend the scene during Katiso “KT” Molefe’s arrest, has admitted that he was not entirely truthful when he denied taking part in a WhatsApp group used to coordinate the operation. Testifying before the commission of inquiry, Mokoena said he was attending the Hawks Excellence Awards in Pretoria East when he was informed that people claiming to be Hawks officers were at Molefe’s Sandhurst home. He said Hawks head Lt-Gen Godfrey Lebeya asked his divisional head to verify the alleged bogus operation. Mokoena said he contacted two members, including Captain Barry Kruger, and sent them the address and a photo of a car on the premises via WhatsApp. He initially denied participating in Kruger’s WhatsApp group but later conceded that he had been added to it, shared information, and sent a message for the team to withdraw. Investigators in Armand Swart’s murder case have previously testified that Hawks members and a Gauteng traffic aircraft appeared at the Sandhurst property, allegedly interfering with the arrest operation. Kruger confirmed Mokoena’s instruction to verify the operation’s legitimacy, saying he drove from Pretoria through traffic. Asked why he contacted the Gauteng traffic air wing instead of nearby police stations, Kruger said he did not have Sandton’s contact numbers and needed quick assistance. After confirming the operation was lawful, he said his team withdrew but noticed other Hawks members at the scene whom he did not recognise. The commission has heard that Swart’s murder is allegedly linked to Transnet corruption involving a tender awarded to SK Group, a company tied to Molefe’s nephew, Lucky Molefe. Witnesses said the tender was rigged using dummy companies. Earlier, Captain Maxwell Wanda, from the Political Killings Task Team, testified that during the 6 December 2024 takedown, Molefe’s alleged bodyguard claimed Molefe was friends with Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. Wanda said the operation was legitimate and executed under a magistrate’s J50 warrant but was unexpectedly disrupted by Hawks members, whose conduct he described as aggressive and interfering. Molefe is accused of orchestrating Swart’s murder and has also been charged in the 2022 killing of Pretoria club owner Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka.
