By Johnathan Paoli
Police sergeant Fannie Nkosi has denied allegations that he shared sensitive South African Police Service (SAPS) information with civilians, including Johannesburg taxi boss Steve Motsumi and tender kingpin Vusi “Cat” Matlala.
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria on Tuesday, Nkosi said his decision to share confidential information with Motsumi was motivated by the latter’s “love for the Republic”.
Nkosi also rejected claims that he alerted Matlala to a police swoop at his home in Pretoria.
Led in evidence by senior counsel Matthew Chaskalson, Nkosi confirmed that an email from a journalist regarding alleged kidnapping kingpin Esmael Nangy had been forwarded to him by suspended deputy national police commissioner for crime detection, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, which he then passed on to Matlala.
“He wanted Mr Matlala to see it. Everything Sibiya wanted from or to Matlala would go through me. Most of the time I would just forward. He probably wanted to know from Mr Matlala what that meant,” Nkosi said.
Nkosi denied knowing whether Matlala and Nangy were connected, but acknowledged serving on a kidnapping task team where Nangy’s name had surfaced.
The team initially operated under Brigadier Lucas Ramangwa, section head of National Special Operations and Investigations within organised crime, before cases were reassigned.
The commission also examined Nkosi’s conduct during the 6 December 2024 raid on Matlala’s home.
Nkosi admitted he was on the phone with Matlala at the time police arrived.
“When I called him, he said the task force was in his house and I must hang up,” Nkosi testified.
He denied tipping Matlala off, maintaining the call was work-related.
Nkosi said Matlala’s name repeatedly surfaced during an investigation into the kidnapping of a mother and child in Copperleaf, Centurion, necessitating ongoing communication.
Further scrutiny turned to Nkosi’s communication with taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni, whom Matlala allegedly wanted assassinated.
Evidence showed Nkosi sent Sibanyoni a message ahead of the attack reading: “It’s today, Laduma.”
Chaskalson suggested this indicated Nkosi was “celebrating” the impending hit, but Nkosi rejected that interpretation, saying he could not recall the context of the message.
Sibanyoni was targeted in a 2022 shooting in Centurion. Forensic ballistics later linked the 9mm pistol used in the attempt to the murder of engineer Armand Swart.
The commission also probed Nkosi’s sharing of police information with civilians, particularly Motsumi, whom Nkosi described as a “concerned citizen”.
Nkosi admitted forwarding information about Nangy and other matters to Motsumi.
“I tried to make him aware of kidnappings… he didn’t like cops involved in wrongdoing,” he said.
Commissioners were unconvinced.
“That’s improbable and an unsatisfactory explanation,” Commissioner Baloyi said.
Chaskalson went further, alleging a pattern of leaking. Nkosi denied any improper intent, insisting he acted out of Motsumi’s perceived patriotism and willingness to assist in fighting crime.
“He has no interest. I am sharing with him due to his love for the country,” Nkosi said.
Tensions escalated when Nkosi was confronted with evidence that he had shared what commissioners described as a confidential SAPS document containing names, addresses and contact details of suspects.
Nkosi initially claimed the document was already public, but Madlanga repeatedly pressed him on whether it was in fact a confidential SAPS document.
Commissioner Khumalo stressed that the identity of an accused must remain confidential until it is presented in court, noting the document was not in the public domain. Baloyi added that it contained details “not publicly available”.
Despite repeated opportunities, Nkosi struggled to give a direct answer, at one point conceding he could not respond.
The commission also examined Nkosi’s interactions with other civilians, including a Pakistani informant who allegedly provided intelligence on kidnappings and illicit cigarette trafficking.
Chaskalson challenged the credibility of this claim, noting that images linked to the informant appeared to originate from SAPS databases. Records also revealed discrepancies regarding who had shared key information.
Further confusion arose over identities in Nkosi’s contacts, with Chaskalson correcting Nkosi that a person he identified as Sphiwe Mabuza was in fact Sphiwe Mashelle.
Proceedings were briefly disrupted by a dispute between Nkosi’s counsel, advocate Hartley Ngoato, and the commission over the late introduction of documents.
“This cannot be accepted, my client has been ambushed,” Ngoato argued.
Madlanga dismissed the objection, saying the material arose from Nkosi’s own evidence and that halting proceedings would “affect progress negatively”.
By the end of the session, the commission had identified a pattern of Nkosi sharing sensitive information with civilians, despite his insistence that he saw no conflict in doing so.
Pressed repeatedly on his conduct, Nkosi maintained he was acting in the country’s best interests — a defence that failed to persuade the commission.
The inquiry adjourned for the day, with Nkosi expected to return on Wednesday morning.
INSIDE POLITICS