Three detectives to testify about their experience while investigating criminal cartels

Three detectives, identified only as A, B, and C, will testify about their experiences in relation to their investigations into crimes linked to criminal cartels when the Madlanga commission resumes on Monday.

The witnesses are expected to wrap up their evidence on Wednesday.

This follows the commission’s earlier decision to bar the media and public from attending hearings as the previous witness gave evidence on matters linked to ongoing police investigations.

Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed on Sunday that the upcoming proceedings will be held partially in camera but will still be live-streamed.

“Witnesses A, B, and C will testify from a remote location, off camera, but their voices will be audible. The public and media will be able to follow the proceedings from the auditorium at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College, where the hearings will take place,” Michaels said, adding that the witnesses will testify in relation to their experiences as detectives investigating crimes related to the criminal cartels, which form the subject matter of the commission.

He added that transcripts of the witnesses’ testimonies will be made publicly available once all three have completed their evidence.

“The commission’s evidence leaders will outline the reasons for this arrangement when proceedings begin at 09:30am on Monday,” Michaels said.

The Madlanga commission, chaired by retired judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga, is probing allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system.

Last week, the commission heard evidence from witness X, who told the commission that an alleged member of drug cartel Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was advised by head of Hawks in KZN Maj-Gen Lesetja Senona to litigate against the state after his multimillion tender was cancelled following an investigation into the procurement process of how it was awarded to him.

Matlala’s company, Medicare24, secured a R360m contract to provide health services to SAPS employees in 2024 but was later cancelled by national police commissioner Fannie Masemola, who cited procurement irregularities.

Masemola also alleged that the contract was awarded under questionable circumstances. The SAPS has since launched an investigation into the awarding of the contract.

Matlala is in custody for the attempted assassination of his former partner, Tebogo Thobejane in October 2023.

The firearms used have been linked to 18 other cases, including that of Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka and his two bodyguards, as well as Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart.

Investigations have since revealed that the Swart assassination is directly linked to whistleblowing via the Transnet hotline on corruption activities involving millions of rand.

Sowetan previously reported that two detectives probing Swart’s assassination were followed from court sessions in Vereeniging, Vaal, and received threats, allegedly from a senior police officer and the suspects’ family and friends.

Head of crime intelligence Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo, who is the head of the team investigating Matlala revealed to the commission that Matlala is a member of a “Big five” cartel which deals with drug distribution, contract killings and procurement of fraudulent tender.

Matlala is expected to challenge his denial of bail on Monday at the Johannesburg high court.

Sowetan