A police investigator testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has alleged that EFF leader Julius Malema was linked to an individual associated with an organised crime cartel.

Testifying in camera, the investigator known only as Witness A said Gauteng head of crime investigation services Maj-Gen Richard Shibiri warned him that Katiso “KT” Molefe, arrested for the murder of Vereeniging engineer and whistleblower Armand Swart, was part of a group of five men with mining interests in the North West.

According to Witness A, Shibiri described the group as dangerous and connected to the late taxi boss Jonathan “King Mswazi” Msibi and another man known as “Mthakathi.” He said one of the men, identified as Zee Nxumalo, was close friends with Malema, who was in turn close to suspended deputy national commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya.

“He [Shibiri] said Molefe is part of five individuals involved in mining. One, a tall Zulu man named Zee Nxumalo, is a close friend of Julius Malema, who is also close to Gen Sibiya,” Witness A said.

He said the arrest of Molefe was “tense,” with several people appearing to back him. After the arrest, Witness A said he received a call from an officer, Col Mokoena, questioning why Molefe was held at Pretoria Central and not locally.

“Mokoena told me Sibiya had called asking about the arrest and wasn’t happy. He warned me to be careful, saying I could face civil claims,” the witness testified.

He said the call and other interactions suggested pressure from senior officers and possible interference in the investigation.

Swart, who worked at QTech in Vereeniging, had uncovered multimillion-rand irregularities in a Transnet tender before his murder. Witness A said the events raised concern that elements within the police may be compromised.

The Madlanga Commission continues its hearings this week, with more witnesses expected to testify remotely.