The ongoing ruckus within the South African Police Service (SAPS) is set to take another twist when national commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, announces the appointment of an acting divisional commissioner for the crime intelligence unit.
Khumalo and the other six top cops – crime intelligence chief financial officer (CFO) Philani Lushaba, crime intelligence technical support system manager Brigadier Dineo Mokwele, Gauteng crime intelligence boss Major General Josias Lekalakala, head of the analysis centre Major General Nosipho Precious Madondo, Major General Zwelithini Gabela of the police’s technology services, and head of the vetting office Brigadier Phindile Ncube – all appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court last month.
Apart from the announcement of the acting divisional commissioner for crime intelligence, Masemola is expected to update the media on ongoing police operations that are underway, aimed at preventing and combating crime in the country.
“The General assures the nation that daily crime combatting operations and normal day-to-day policing at stations and other SAPS service points continues,” said Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
“The mandate and work of the police, which is to prevent, combat and investigate crime, to maintain public order, to protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property, and to uphold and enforce the law is not affected in any way. The men and women in blue remain hard at work at every corner of this country to serve and protect all people living in South Africa.”
Mathe said “other issues that are currently in the public domain” will also be discussed when Masemola addressed the media on the unspecified day.
The task team, established in 2018, was a multidisciplinary unit focusing on politically motivated killings and related crimes in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mkhwanazi accused Sibiya of being a “criminal” and of improper conduct, allegedly at the behest of Mchunu, for summarily closing the political task team.
Mkhwanazi said the unit was disbanded just as it was circling on a criminal syndicate which included top police, prosecutors and Members of Parliament. The dockets under investigation were said to be archived by Sibiya in Pretoria.
The KwaZulu-Natal provincial police boss also accused Mchunu of allowing his associates who include members of the criminal underworld, to interfere directly in the work of the SAPS. At the press briefing, Mkhwanazi alleged he has in his possession evidence linking Mchunu and his North West associate Brown Mogotsi to accused businessman and tenderpreneur Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.
Mkhwanazi revealed that in May, the effective political killings task team arrested Matlala for three counts of attempted murder. In 2024, Mkhwanazi said Matlala had been awarded a juicy R360 million SAPS contract.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu
“An analysis was conducted on (the) electronic communication of this syndicate. This analysis reveals communication between the arrested Matlala, Mr Brown Mogotsi — an associate of the minister of police — as well as the minister of police, Mr Senzo Mchunu.
“Further analysis of the chats indicates that Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is financially supporting the minister of police and Mr Brown Mogotsi’s political endeavours. This is supported by the evidence of conversations and the proof of payments of guests for January 8 travelling costs and a gala dinner table in Cape Town, which was done in 2025,” said Mkhwanazi.
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