Internal threats to SAPS emerge during Khumalo's testimony

FOR the first time since the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry began its work on September 17, the Commission was presented with “quite” large files of evidence yesterday.

- RAPULA MOATSHE

This was a remark by Commission chair Mbuyiseli Madlanga during the testimony of Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, the SAPS’ divisional commissioner of crime intelligence at the Commission tasked with uncovering the truth behind alleged corruption, political interference, and criminality in the criminal justice system.

Khumalo, who heads the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), took the stand to shed light on alleged corruption within the police force, emphasising that serious threats to police operations originate internally, allowing external threats to infiltrate the SAPS.

As Khumalo took his sworn statement, Madlanga noted the substantial files presented, describing them as “quite a lot of clutter in front of us” — not in a negative sense.

Evidence leader Advocate Adila Hassim SC specified that File One, marked WB1 and WB2, would be the primary documents used for yesterday's proceedings.

Seated alongside two sign language interpreters and a video operator, Khumalo gave a historical background about the formation of the task team, which was established at the time when political killings in KwaZulu-Natal were increasing in 2018.

Khumalo identified businessmen Katiso “KT” Molefe and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala as two of the leaders of the notorious Big Five cartel, accused of infiltrating South Africa's criminal justice system and the political sphere.