By Johnathan Paoli
Sergeant Fannie Nkosi has admitted he helped buy four motorcycles for alleged crime-linked figures. The purchases exceeded R1.5 million.
However, he could not clearly explain where the money came from or how it was handled.
Nkosi was back on the stand at the commission in Pretoria on Friday.
The inquiry focused on his ties to Jothan “Mswazi” Msibi and a trail of large cash payments.
The money was used to buy bikes for taxi bosses, businessmen and alleged crime figures Katiso “KT” Molefe, Phehello Mthakathi and Steve Motsumi.
“It has been done like this. Mr. Msibi will give me money. Then I will go and deposit. Then after depositing, I will send each and everyone the proof of deposit,” Nkosi told the commission.
“So, the reason I send this one, Mkombeni [Transport], to Mr. Molefe, it was a proof of payment that it was paid to another 200. I think I’ve sent it to Mr. Msibi, Mr. Motsumi, Mr. Mthakathi, and Mr. Molefe.”
At the centre of the inquiry was Nkosi’s admission that Msibi supplied substantial amounts of cash, which Nkosi deposited and used to make payments on behalf of the group.
He told the commission that Msibi, a taxi owner operating more than 200 vehicles across local and cross-border routes, typically kept his money in safes rather than in bank accounts.
Nkosi detailed a single transaction on 16 October 2023 in which he deposited R700,000 in cash towards a motorcycle purchase.
This was in addition to earlier acknowledged payments, including R300,000 in cash for Molefe’s bike, bringing the total for that single motorcycle to at least R1 million.
Further evidence presented by evidence leader advocate Matthew Chaskalson indicated that the broader set of transactions totalled at least R1.51 million, including multiple cash deposits and electronic transfers.
Nkosi confirmed that funds were sometimes “mixed” between the four motorcycles, and that proof of payment was shared among recipients regardless of the original source of the money.
In one instance, he sent proof of an EFT from Mkombeni Transport to Molefe, despite testifying that the underlying funds had come from Msibi.
He also acknowledged receiving a R150,000 EFT from Molefe via a company called Xenopendrana, whose sole director he identified as Siyabulela Sibande.
Nkosi explained that, due to time constraints on one occasion, he handed cash from Msibi to his brother, who then processed an EFT through Mkombeni Transport.
He maintained that his role was limited to facilitating payments, but conceded that the arrangement created confusion in tracking the true source of funds.
The Commission also heard that Nkosi had a close and, at times, informal relationship with Msibi.
Nkosi testified that Msibi once entrusted him with a “stack of money” for safekeeping, stating: “When you’re a man of God, people trust you with their possessions.”
Beyond the financial transactions, Nkosi faced intense scrutiny over his conduct in sharing sensitive police information.
He admitted to sending “spider diagrams” (internal police linkage charts containing case details, addresses and arrest histories) to Msibi in August 2021, despite acknowledging that Msibi was not entitled to receive such information.
Nkosi claimed he could not recall why he sent the documents, prompting Commissioner Sesi Baloyi to question what she described as Nkosi’s “selective memory”, noting that he remembered trivial details but not the rationale for disclosing confidential investigative material.
Nkosi was further confronted about sharing crime scene photographs from a kidnapping and extortion case with his friend, Mpho Lekukela, as well as circulating a warrant related blogger Musa Khawula, asking Lekukela to alert police if the suspect was spotted in Pretoria.
He insisted the images were sourced from the media, although counsel argued they appeared to be official police exhibits.
Earlier in proceedings, Nkosi was accused of downplaying his relationship with taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni.
While he had previously suggested limited contact, WhatsApp records presented to the commission showed at least 12 visits to Sibanyoni’s private residence between March 2024 and September 2025.
Nkosi denied misrepresenting the frequency of meetings and rejected suggestions that he was attempting to distance himself.
Meanwhile, the commission granted a postponement application for suspended EMPD Deputy Chief Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi.
His testimony, initially scheduled for 23 March, has been deferred to 14 April following the passing of his mother, arguing that funeral rites and related rituals would affect his readiness to testify, a position accepted by the panel as proceedings adjourned.
Nkosi is expected to return to the stand on Monday morning to complete his cross-examination.
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