By Johnathan Paoli
Crime Intelligence boss, Dumisani Khumalo, continued his testimony before the Madlanga Commission on Monday, presenting a web of links between suspended Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, one of his alleged close protectors, and an organised crime suspect previously seen exchanging a bag with a Hawks officer.
Khumalo’s evidence painted a troubling picture of infiltration, corruption, and protection rackets within the South African Police Service (SAPS), suggesting that professional criminals have positioned themselves close to senior officers, a trend he said is eroding discipline and making life increasingly difficult for honest junior investigators.
“Professional criminals in syndicates and cartels tend to stay close to higher levels, making it harder for lower-level officers to act,” Khumalo said.
The Ccommission was shown new CCTV footage of Hawks Warrant Officer Sabelo Nkosi, attached to organised crime under Sibiya’s command, arriving at the Johannesburg mansion of Katiso “KT” Molefe on 27 November 2024, ten days before Molefe’s arrest.
In the footage, Nkosi arrives in a white BMW registered to the Deputy National Commissioner’s office.
Nine minutes later, Molefe is seen escorting Nkosi back to the vehicle, carrying a white bag that did not appear to be heavy.
Khumalo told the Commission that the bag may have contained bribe money, though he stressed that the investigation is ongoing.
“We had arrested him twice, and he is getting bail now and again, we might go back there anytime soon,” Khumalo said, hinting that further arrests could follow.
He confirmed that SAPS tracking logs, known as SAP132B forms, corroborate the movement of the state vehicle Nkosi used to meet Molefe.
In a striking revelation, Khumalo traced the same white BMW seen at Molefe’s residence to a search and seizure operation at Sibiya’s Centurion compound on 9 October 2025.
The car was captured on multiple License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras across Johannesburg, often moving in tandem with a white Toyota Hilux registered to Scharnick Stuart James, a man Khumalo identified as Sibiya’s “close protector”.
Footage from William Nicol Highway (30 September 2025) and several other sites shows the two vehicles traveling together, forming what Khumalo described as a pattern of movement typical of an escort or convoy.
“The cars move together. The white BMW, previously seen at Molefe’s house, appears repeatedly alongside the Hilux. This is significant given the individuals involved,” Khumalo said.
Khumalo then produced documentation confirming that the Toyota Hilux is owned by James, who has a long criminal history.
According to SAPS records, James has 34 criminal cases on file: 18 convictions, 11 withdrawn, and five acquittals, with most of the charges relating to carjacking and vehicle theft.
James was seen accompanying Sibiya during his recent appearance before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations by KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that senior SAPS officials have been compromised.
A screenshot of the recorded footage shown to the Commission confirms a man identified as James sitting directly behind Sibiya during that hearing.
Khumalo confirmed that National Commissioner Fannie Masemola had been briefed in advance of the October 9 operations targeting the properties of Matlala and Molefe, but said investigators were still verifying whether Sibiya had prior knowledge of these operations and whether such information was leaked.
Television footage from the Centurion raid showed Sibiya being accompanied by several unidentified men, one of whom Khumalo described as acting like a protector.
He reiterated that all SAPS vehicles are centrally managed through proxy systems and that any vehicle use is supposed to be logged both manually and electronically.
In his closing remarks, Khumalo warned the Commission of a growing trend of criminal infiltration within SAPS ranks.
The commission resumes on Wednesday morning.
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