An alleged drug cartel and a murdered witness

[ad_1] Khanyisile Ngcobo Johannesburg

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/59f7/live/3cde3310-de8f-11f0-9028-8b22ec331ece.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/59f7/live/3cde3310-de8f-11f0-9028-8b22ec331ece.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/59f7/live/3cde3310-de8f-11f0-9028-8b22ec331ece.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/59f7/live/3cde3310-de8f-11f0-9028-8b22ec331ece.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/59f7/live/3cde3310-de8f-11f0-9028-8b22ec331ece.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/59f7/live/3cde3310-de8f-11f0-9028-8b22ec331ece.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/59f7/live/3cde3310-de8f-11f0-9028-8b22ec331ece.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/59f7/live/3cde3310-de8f-11f0-9028-8b22ec331ece.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Gallo Images via Getty Images A head and shoulders image of Senzo Mchunu in a blue jacket and tie. He is glancing upwards towards his right." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Gallo Photographs through Getty Photographs Senzo Mchunu was suspended as police minister after corruption allegations emerged about him, which he denies

South Africans have lengthy suspected corruption and political interference had been at work within the police power however up to now few months allegations showing to verify this have been aired in two public inquiries.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is at the moment digesting the contents of an interim report from a fee he established to research illegality throughout the police.

It was arrange after senior police officer Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged in July that organised crime teams had infiltrated the federal government.

His dramatic intervention led to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu being placed on particular depart.

Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi, who heads up the police in KwaZulu-Natal province, claimed that Mchunu had ties to crime kingpins and this was why he shut down an elite unit investigating political murders.

Mchunu, a senior member of Ramaphosa's African Nationwide Congress (ANC) and a detailed ally of the president, has denied any wrongdoing.

However to research the allegations, Ramaphosa requested retired Constitutional Court docket choose Mbuyiseli Madlanga to go up a public inquiry. Parliament in Cape City arrange its personal panel to research the matter.

"As I see it now, that is terrorism," Gen Mkhwanazi stated showing because the Madlanga Fee's first witness in September.

These are "individuals who need to take over authorities, not by way of the poll paper however by way of these prison actions".

Within the three months of testimony from the parallel inquiries, South Africans have heard about an alleged drug cartel with political connections and a businessman, who's awaiting trial for tried homicide, with alleged ties to main authorities figures. A witness on the Madlanga Fee was additionally murdered after giving proof.

This is what we have realized to date:

Position of the 'Large 5 Cartel'

Among the many most explosive proof was the testimony given by police crime intelligence boss Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo.

Showing earlier than the Madlanga Fee throughout the first month of hearings, Lt-Gen Khumalo alleged there was a drug trafficking cartel, headed by people who he referred to as the Large 5, working in a number of provinces, which had "penetrated the political sphere".

He named two figures from the 5 alleged leaders of this prison gang, one among them being controversial businessman Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala.

Mr Matlala is at the moment going through 25 prison costs, amongst them tried homicide.

These stem from three separate incidents that occurred between 2022 and 2024. He has denied all the costs towards him.

The crime intelligence boss claimed the Large 5 led a community with widespread affect throughout the nation.

He alleged that it was a cartel, that was working each domestically and overseas, and dealt primarily with narcotics but in addition carried out contract killings "related to the drug trafficking processes", cross-border hijackings and kidnappings.

This cartel had tentacles throughout the nation's prison justice system, and this allowed them to "manipulate investigations, suppress proof [and] hinder authorized proceedings that threaten their actions", Lt-Gen Khumalo added.

It was this grouping that was allegedly behind the disbandment of the political killings job staff (PKTT), which was working primarily in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

It's because the cartel "mistakenly thought the PKTT was investigating" them, Lt-Gen Khumalo advised the fee.

"The Large 5 has already penetrated the political sphere and there are documented instances of high-profile connections within the political area," the policeman alleged.

One other witness on the Madlanga Fee had been a part of the PKTT. Anonymised – and recognized solely as "witness C" - he additionally talked about what he referred to as the Large 5 cartel, alleging it had "full management and oversight" in each authorities division.

Who's 'Cat' Matlala?

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/461d/live/deeb4bd0-de8e-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/461d/live/deeb4bd0-de8e-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/461d/live/deeb4bd0-de8e-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/461d/live/deeb4bd0-de8e-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/461d/live/deeb4bd0-de8e-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/461d/live/deeb4bd0-de8e-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/461d/live/deeb4bd0-de8e-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/461d/live/deeb4bd0-de8e-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Gallo Images via Getty Images A composite of four head-and-shoulders photographs of Vusimusi Cat Matlala as he was giving evidence to the parliamentary inquiry showing him giving different hand gestures." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Gallo Photographs through Getty Photographs Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala spent two days giving testimony on the parliamentary inquiry

Central to the allegations towards the suspended police minister is his alleged shut relationship with "Cat" Matlala.

On the Madlanga Fee, Mkhwanazi repeated claims he had made at a press convention in July that Mchunu was not directly receiving monetary assist from the businessman to fund his "political endeavours".

He shared copies of textual content messages and a fee allegedly made by Matlala to show this on the time. These funds had been seemingly facilitated by a 3rd get together.

Throughout his look on the Madlanga Fee Mchunu refuted the allegations saying that he had "by no means been accused of corruption, not as soon as".

"That is the primary time I get accused of such."

Mr Matlala had a profitable contract with the police earlier than it was abruptly cancelled when he was charged for tried homicide in Might.

In 2001, he was convicted and served time for the possession of stolen items.

Through the years, he could be arrested for a string of alleged crimes, together with home robberies, a cash-in-transit heist and assault, however in all instances he denied involvement and was both acquitted or had the costs withdrawn towards him.

Showing on the parliamentary inquiry, Mr Matlala stated he had turned his life round in 2017, when he "formally registered my first enterprise which was a safety enterprise".

As he's now in custody over the tried homicide cost, he gave proof with restraints round his ankles. Over the course of his two-day testimony in entrance of MPs Mr Matlala laid naked his description of relationships with former and present ministers in addition to high police officers.

Other than being accused of getting shut ties to Mchunu, Mr Matlala has been linked to others within the police power.

He denied figuring out the senior law enforcement officials and politicians personally however admitted making funds for ANC-related actions.

"From what I perceive, the minister [Mchunu] despatched [a third party] to go ask for donations there and there, and I used to be one among them," Mr Matlala advised MPs.

He additionally advised the parliamentary panel that after the authorities had returned firearms seized from him, former Police Minister Bheki Cele had demanded "a facilitation charge" of 1m rand ($60,000; £45,000) to which he solely paid half the quantity. Mr Matlala alleged that Cele additionally allegedly requested for this cash to cease harassment from the police.

Cele, who testified earlier than Mr Matlala's look on the parliamentary committee, admitted to MPs that he had recognized Mr Matlala for a few months and had stayed at his penthouse on two events as these had been "freebies".

He, nonetheless, denied receiving cash from Mr Matlala.

Mr Matlala has not but appeared on the Madlanga Fee however is predicted to have an opportunity to talk there sooner or later subsequent yr.

Numerous witnesses, nonetheless, painted a special image of Mr Matlala's relationship with the police.

Witness C advised the Madlanga Fee that Mr Matlala had "shut relationships with senior [police] officers" and had detailed the extent of this after police arrested him again in Might.

The witness alleged that Mr Matlala contributed cash in the direction of the now-suspended police minister's presidential ambitions throughout the ANC although he didn't consider he would win.

Fee witness later murdered

A witness on the Madlanga Fee was murdered in early December, simply three weeks after he gave testimony.

It's not clear if the 2 occasions had been related.

Marius van der Merwe, who was recognized solely as "Witness D" throughout his look, was killed in full view of his household.

He had simply returned house within the night and was gunned down as he waited for the entrance gate to open. No arrests have been made however three individuals of curiosity have been recognized by police. The motive for the taking pictures is unclear.

The id of Mr Van der Merwe, a former police officer who ran a personal safety firm, was confirmed by authorities after his homicide.

In his look in entrance of Decide Madlanga he had implicated officers, together with Brig Julius Mkhwanazi (no relation to Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi) who was appearing police chief for an space together with components of Johannesburg.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/bc71/live/d8e1a060-da8b-11f0-b800-5d5b12ef9423.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/bc71/live/d8e1a060-da8b-11f0-b800-5d5b12ef9423.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bc71/live/d8e1a060-da8b-11f0-b800-5d5b12ef9423.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/bc71/live/d8e1a060-da8b-11f0-b800-5d5b12ef9423.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/bc71/live/d8e1a060-da8b-11f0-b800-5d5b12ef9423.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/bc71/live/d8e1a060-da8b-11f0-b800-5d5b12ef9423.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/bc71/live/d8e1a060-da8b-11f0-b800-5d5b12ef9423.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bc71/live/d8e1a060-da8b-11f0-b800-5d5b12ef9423.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Gallo via Getty Images A head and shoulders image of Mbuyiseli Madlanga listening to the testimony at the commission." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Gallo through Getty Photographs Retired Decide Mbuyiseli Madlanga will chair additional periods within the new yr and can then submit a closing report

There he had claimed Brig Mkhwanazi ordered him to eliminate the physique of a person accused of theft who had allegedly been tortured and killed by police officers.

Commenting on this, Mr Van der Merwe advised the fee: "I actually didn't have an opportunity to agree. I felt like I used to be being pressured."

In his testimony, Brig Mkhwanazi denied having any involvement within the case together with the alleged disposal of the physique. As an alternative, he advised the fee he had been referred to as to the scene of a criminal offense throughout the municipality and had stayed there for "two to a few minutes".

Mr Van der Merwe's dying after giving proof sparked outrage throughout South Africa.

The focusing on of whistleblowers has change into widespread within the nation, with rights teams like Human Rights Watch noting that "many face retaliation, lack of livelihood and even lack of life".

The authorities revealed that Mr Van der Merwe had refused witness safety following his testimony on the fee.

The place issues stand now

Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stated that Decide Madlanga's interim report wouldn't be made public because it was not "useful to start out... debating on one thing that's half-baked".

The ultimate report - anticipated subsequent yr - "shall be made out there to the general public".

"The commissioner will [however] advise the president on areas which can be of nationwide safety sensitivity and the way these areas will must be managed," he added in a briefing to journalists.

The Madlanga Fee is finishing up its work in three phases; the primary section gave witnesses an opportunity to current their allegations.

The second section, at the moment underneath method, permits these implicated by proof given to the inquiry, like Mchunu, to answer the allegations made towards them.

The ultimate section will recall witnesses talked about within the first section to make clear or make additions to their statements.

The Madlanga Fee was given six months to finish its work and submit a closing report, however this may be prolonged because the "president could decide", in response to its phrases of reference. It's not clear how lengthy the parliamentary inquiry will run nevertheless it too is predicted to renew hearings in 2026.

South Africans will now have to attend till some level subsequent yr to learn the findings and proposals from each inquiries. The query they're asking is whether or not these shall be sufficient to power the federal government to cope with the issues critics say exist within the police service.

Extra BBC tales on South Africa: <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images/BBC A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Photographs/BBC [ad_2] Source link