Hawks' surprise visit raises alarm at Molefe takedown

A high-stakes takedown operation targeting alleged hitman Katiso "KT" Molefe turned tense when a contingent of Hawks officers arrived unannounced, former crime scene investigator Captain Maxwell Wanda told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry yesterday.

- Vhahangwele Nemakonde

Wanda, who served on the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), described the December 2024 raid as "highly sensitive and dangerous".

He said the Hawks' aggressive presence risked derailing the operation and compromising officer safety.

Molefe is accused of ordering the hit on transnet engineer Armand Swart.

The takedown at Molefe's house took place on 6 December, 2024 and Wanda said he was not aware of the suspect's identity until the team arrived at the house.

Wanda said when they arrived at Molefe's house in Sandhurst, they found him in his dining room.

"When we arrived, there was a person [Lehasa Moloi, Molefe's bodyguard] sitting next to the tennis court along the driveway and handcuffed. Next to him were two firearms - a rifle and a pistol," said Wanda.