Mkhwanazi implicates MPs, business figures and police in Madlanga commission testimony

From Members of Parliament to businesspeople and even law enforcement officials, KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has implicated several individuals during his testimony on the second day of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Testifying at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria, Mkhwanazi identified people he believes acted as obstacles to the work of Gauteng’s counterintelligence operations unit.

That unit has been working closely with the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) on a number of high-profile murder cases in the province.

Mkhwanazi has named Members of Parliament Fadiel Adams and Dianne Kohler Barnard, claiming they gained access to classified crime intelligence information and made it public.

He also identified a Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer, Johannes Mokgatle, alleging that he had links to businessman-turned-murder accused Katiso “KT” Molefe.

Mokgatle is accused of assisting Molefe by running a number plate check and confirming the ownership of a police vehicle that was staking out Molefe’ home a day before his arrest.

“He then goes and tests the vehicle to establish the ownership, and he then goes and briefs his friend or associate to say, ‘This is a police vehicle, don’t worry about it,’” Mkhwanazi testified.

Molefe is regarded as the alleged mastermind behind the murders of DJ Sumbody and DJ Vintos.

Mkhwanazi also named North West businessman Suleiman Kareem, alleging that underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala had asked him to intervene with Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

According to the testimony, Kareem was requested to help persuade the minister not to cancel Matlala’s R360-million police contract.