Madlanga Commission
Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo told the Madlanga Commission that senior police officers, including suspended deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, were linked to an organised crime network tied to the “Big Five” cartel, exposing deep corruption within Crime Intelligence.
Explosive testimony before the Madlanga Commission has revealed what Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo described as entrenched links between high-ranking members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and an organised crime network known as the “Big Five” cartel.
Khumalo, who heads Crime Intelligence, said a subordinate of suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya was caught on CCTV visiting the home of alleged crime figure Katiso “KT” Molefe just days before a police raid on the property.
The footage, dated 27 November 2024, showed Sergeant F.E. Nkosi arriving at Molefe’s Vosloorus residence in a police-registered BMW. Nkosi was seen leaving moments later carrying a white paper bag. Investigators later found that the car’s tracking device was inactive, suggesting it had been tampered with.
According to Khumalo, the same vehicle was later spotted at Sibiya’s Pretoria home during a search and seizure operation conducted by the Political Killings Task Team. “Our analysis linked Nkosi, Sibiya, and Molefe to a network associated with the so-called ‘Big Five’ cartel,” Khumalo told the commission.
The commission also heard that Nkosi allegedly transported cash between Molefe’s associate, Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, and Sibiya. Further investigation revealed that Sibiya had used a Toyota double-cab bakkie registered to convicted criminal Scharnick Stuart James during a police raid at his home. James, Khumalo said, had faced 34 criminal cases, with 18 resulting in convictions.
Khumalo raised concerns about the Hawks’ conduct during a December 2024 operation at Molefe’s house, saying their involvement amounted to obstruction of justice. Investigators later identified Molefe’s associate, Mthethwa, as the person who alerted the Hawks during the raid. “It was interference by certain DPCI officers, a JMPD officer, and others within detective services,” Khumalo said.
In another revelation, Khumalo testified that Molefe was tipped off about the operation by Johannesburg Metro Police officer Johannes Mokgatle, who accessed sensitive vehicle data using police systems. Mokgatle later confirmed this in a sworn affidavit.
He added that during operations linked to Molefe and Matlala, suspects invoked Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s name in attempts to deter officers. “One claimed to be close to the minister, while another said we were disrupting his meeting with him,” Khumalo said.
Khumalo concluded that internal collusion within SAPS had long been anticipated. “It was no surprise when Hawks members arrived at Molefe’s home. Intelligence had already linked some of them to the suspects,” he said.
The testimony adds another layer to the commission’s inquiry into political interference, corruption, and organised crime within the police ranks, painting a picture of systemic rot undermining the country’s justice system.
