IPID official tells Madlanga Commission about stalled probe because witness fears police

By Johnathan Paoli

The three-year investigation into the alleged unlawful seizure of a truck and goods worth more than R1 million at Putfontein in February 2023 has stalled because a key witness fears being killed by police.

This was according to the testimony of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s (IPID) assistant director for investigations, Thulani Magagula, at the Madlanga Commission on Friday.

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Magagula said the case against two EMPD officers, Aiden McKenzie and Kershia Leigh Stols, had become stagnant despite a prima facie case of misconduct and potential criminality arising from the Putfontein incident.

“Currently [the witness] is afraid. I don’t want to lie. I communicate with him. He says he’s afraid of the police. The question will be, ‘Hey, Magagula, you know the police, they will kill me.’