By Johnathan Paoli
SAPS Sergeant Fannie Nkosi has directly contradicted suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya’s denial that he instructed the officer to forward celebrity blogger Musa Khawula’s arrest warrant to businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.
Nkosi, previously known at the inquiry as Witness F, appeared before the Madlanga Commission on Monday, where he maintained under questioning that the instruction came from Sibiya himself.
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During questioning by evidence leader advocate Matthew Chaskalson, Nkosi stood by his account that the instruction had been communicated to him while he and a colleague were preparing to arrest Khawula.
“We received a call from General Sibiya telling me that I must forward this warrant to Mr Matlala because at that time Mr. Matlala had a security company,” Nkosi said.
According to Nkosi, Sibiya told him that Matlala’s security company had knowledge of locations frequently visited by Khawula.
“Matlala and his security company always have a provision where Musa usually goes on the weekends,” Nkosi said.
Sibiya had previously told the commission that Nkosi was lying about receiving such an instruction.
When Chaskalson pointed out that Sibiya had previously confirmed, under questioning from Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo, that Nkosi was “not telling the truth”, the sergeant remained firm, telling the commission he “stands by” his version.
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Nkosi testified that Sibiya told him the arrest of Khawula was urgent because the alleged complainants included ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and businessman Ze Nxumalo.
Nkosi said Sibiya told him the matter was placing him “under pressure”, which was why they were instructed to prioritise Khawula’s arrest.
Khawula was arrested in January 2025 on charges including alleged Cybercrimes Act contraventions and crimen injuria linked to statements about businessman Ze Nxumalo.
He had also previously been jailed for 90 days for contempt in a separate defamation matter involving Nozuko Mbalula.
The contradiction emerged alongside several other disputes between Nkosi and Sibiya regarding their interactions with Matlala.
Nkosi rejected Sibiya’s earlier claim that the two men had minimal contact and that the sergeant had never brought Matlala to his office.
He said that Matlala had been in Sibiya’s office “more times than I can count”.
He also disputed Sibiya’s evidence about a controversial delivery of impalas allegedly paid for by Matlala and intended for Sibiya’s farm.
Sibiya had testified that he rejected the animals and instructed Nkosi to ensure they were not delivered.
WhatsApp records presented to the commission show that on 21 March 2024, a voice note requesting a pin drop for where the impalas should be delivered was sent to Nkosi, who immediately forwarded it to Sibiya with the message: “Morning’s it’s from Cat.”
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The exchanges were followed by a series of calls between Nkosi and Matlala, as well as messages indicating arrangements for the animals’ transport.
In addition, Nkosi told the commission it was possible that Matlala and Sibiya had known each other before that date.
He denied Sibiya’s claim that the businessman had only been invited to Sibiya’s home on 14 September 2024 to collect the officer’s wife, who was allegedly intoxicated.
“That is his version. But to me, he never stated that. He just said tell him to make a turn and I did that,” Nkosi said.
Proceedings opened with commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga explaining why Nkosi could no longer testify anonymously.
Madlanga said that once Sibiya and others repeatedly mentioned Nkosi by name during the hearings, continuing to conceal his identity had become untenable.
Nkosi had applied to continue giving evidence remotely and in camera, claiming he had received messages and calls from individuals linked to the ANC discouraging him from testifying further.
Madlanga rejected the application. He said that the commission had seen no evidence that Nkosi’s testimony placed his life at risk and that his name and image were already public following earlier evidence linking him to CCTV footage at the home of businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe.
The commission continues.