KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has warned of a possible factional “war” after Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo and Major-General Nosipho Precious Madondo were allegedly told to report to the Brooklyn police station in Pretoria, only for no arrests to be carried out.

Speaking outside the station on Thursday, Mkhwanazi said intelligence received by his team suggested there were efforts to ensure that he and Khumalo were “behind bars” within 48 hours.

“I wanted to see for myself. We received intelligence that IDAC (Investigating Directorate Against Corruption) was given 24-hours to bring [me] and General Khumalo to the cells. Our intelligence says there was a panic that there were warrants of arrest for IDAC officials, and that’s not true. We are facing a war,” Mkhwanazi told NewzroomAfrika.

He reiterated that the reports that warrants had been obtained against officials from the IDAC were false, saying no such investigation existed from his side.

“If there was a rumour yesterday, I’m saying again, live on TV, there’s no warrant of arrest that we have ever applied for in IDAC. In actual fact, there’s not even an investigation for that matter,” he said.

“What the intelligence received yesterday was that they have given themselves 48 hours to make sure that myself and Khumalo are behind bars because they believe that we have secured a warrant of arrest for IDAC officials. I did not believe that story because there’s no warrant of arrest from where I am, there’s not even an investigation that involves anyone from IDAC,” added.

According to Mkhwanazi, the warning appeared to gain credibility when Khumalo informed him that he had received a call instructing him to report to Brooklyn police station.

“I thought, if indeed it’s true, that means perhaps they might also be looking for me, so I might as well be close by,” he said.

The confusion deepened when Khumalo and Madondo arrived at the station accompanied by their attorney, James Ndebele, only for no arrests to be carried out.

Ndebele said both officers had been contacted earlier in the day and instructed to surrender themselves.

“I represent Lt-Generals Khumalo and Madondo. They were called earlier this afternoon, around 13:00 and instructed to surrender themselves for arrest and detention at the Brooklyn Police Station. They were informed that a warrant of arrest had been issued for their arrest,” he said.

According to Ndebele, the situation changed after their arrival.

“When they arrived here at quarter past two, I was present, IDAC was not here. They were then informed by a man who called them and informed them that he was the chief investigator at IDAC and that they would not be arrested today, due to a decision or call that came through from senior management,” he said.

Ndebele said neither officer had been informed of the nature of the alleged charges.

“What is strange though, is the fact that they were not afforded any opportunity to provide a statement of sorts. This decision has been made. I don’t know how they arrived at the decision, but my clients have been prejudiced at IDAC repeatedly hurling them at police stations,” he said.

Speaking earlier to eNCA, Ndebele described the episode as embarrassing to have an attorney instructed to attend the police station with clients, at the request of IDAC, only for them not to pitch.

In response to the growing speculation, IDAC issued a brief statement earlier on Thursday afternoon, denying that any arrests had taken place.

“The NPA’s IDAC takes note of the media reports on the arrest of the Head of Crime Intelligence General Dumisani Khumalo. We wish to set the record straight that General Khumalo has not been arrested nor has anyone else from Crime Intelligence,” the directorate said.

However, both Ndebele and Mkhwanazi questioned the directorate’s statement, saying it was odd given their account that Khumalo and Madondo had been specifically instructed to present themselves at the police station.

In June last year, Khumalo, Madondo, Maj-Gen Philani Lushaba, Maj-Gen Josias Lekalakala, Maj-Gen Zwelithini Gabela, Brig Dineo Mokwele and Brig Phindile Ncube appeared in court on fraud and corruption charges linked to the alleged irregular appointment of Mokwele within Crime Intelligence.

Khumalo, Madondo, Lekalakala, Gabela, Ncube and Mokwele were granted bail, while Lushaba initially remained in custody because his matter was treated as a Schedule 6 offence.

Khumalo later challenged restrictions barring him from Crime Intelligence premises and was reinstated as Crime Intelligence head in November 2025.

Earlier this year, Khumalo told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that a coordinated “misinformation campaign” had been launched against him as he sought to reform what he described as a lawless and corrupt division.

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The Madlanga Commission has ruled that Witness J, a Hawks analyst, will testify behind closed doors, citing ongoing investigations and concerns for the witness’s safety.

Commission Chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga announced the decision on Thursday morning, following an application made by the witness’ legal team.

Witness J, an analyst attached to the Priority Crime Management Centre within the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), had applied for permission to testify in camera, arguing that public testimony could compromise ongoing investigations, expose investigative methodologies and place both the witness and family members at risk.

In an affidavit submitted to the commission, the witness said the evidence relates to the analysis of data extracted from suspects’ cellular phones and other digital devices linked to a bust of 715kg of cocaine, valued at R300 million, in Aeroton, south Johannesburg in 2021.

The analyst’s statement outlined how their work involved examining messages, call records, contact information, geolocation data and movement patterns, as well as communications conducted through encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Threema.

According to the affidavit, the purpose of the analysis was to identify links between suspects, uncover communication networks and establish possible criminal associations.

Central to the proposed testimony are findings concerning alleged police informant Tumelo Nku, whose role has featured prominently in evidence before the commission.

The witness stated that the analysis indicates Nku “played an active role in monitoring, facilitating and communicating about the movement of the container of drugs from the Port of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal to Johannesburg, Gauteng”, and that communications, call records and movement data linked him to other individuals relevant to the investigation.

The affidavit alleges that the digital evidence supports the existence of a coordinated network of individuals communicating through encrypted messaging platforms and ordinary cellular channels regarding container movements, transport arrangements and the suspected retrieval of illicit goods.

In their statement, Witness J argued that some of the evidence had already entered the public domain through earlier testimony by Hawks Lieutenant Colonel Nkoana Sebola, but maintained that a substantial portion of the analysis remained undisclosed.

The analyst warned that revealing this new material in open proceedings could compromise investigative leads, alert potential suspects and prejudice both current and future investigations.

The affidavit also raised concerns about personal safety, noting that the witness is not ordinarily involved in public-facing investigative work and that public identification could expose both the analyst and family members to intimidation, threats or retaliation.

The witness claimed that the new analysis points to a broader network of individuals and entities, including possible links to persons within law enforcement agencies who may not yet know they have been connected to the investigation.

Following Madlanga’s ruling, commissioners will spend the remainder of Thursday hearing Witness J’s evidence in camera.

Meanwhile, evidence leader Advocate Thabang Pooe applied for the postponement of Nku’s anticipated testimony.

Pooe told the commission that Nku’s evidence was expected to extend beyond a single day and could not be accommodated alongside the scheduled appearance of KZN Hawks head Major General Lesetja Senona, who is due to testify on Friday.

As a result, Nku, who had been expected to take the witness stand on Thursday, will now appear before the commission next week on a date still to be announced.

The commission subsequently adjourned, with open proceedings set to resume on Friday morning.

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The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has dismissed suspended SAPS Organised Crime Sergeant Fannie Nkosi’s appeal against the refusal of bail, ruling that the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court correctly found that his release would not be in the interests of justice.

Delivering his judgment on Wednesday, Judge Mokhine Mosopa upheld the earlier decision by magistrate Thandi Theledi, who denied Nkosi bail after finding that he had failed to prove he would not pose a danger to the public, evade trial, or interfere with the investigation and witnesses.

Nkosi faces charges including defeating the ends of justice, unlawful possession of ammunition and explosives, theft, failure to secure firearms and failing to protect ammunition.

“I see no need to interfere with the judgment of the bail court, as the magistrate did not exercise her discretion wrongly. This appeal ought not to succeed. The appeal against the Pretoria North Magistrate Court refusal to grant bail is hereby refused,” Mosopa said.

A key issue before the court was whether Nkosi’s release would undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system and disturb public peace and security.

Mosopa agreed with the lower court’s findings, noting the seriousness of the allegations against a police officer.

He also rejected arguments by Nkosi’s advocate, Hendrik Potgieter, that the magistrate had improperly relied on public opinion in refusing bail.

“The applicant is a member of the SAPS and the allegations against him involve serious misconduct and abuse of office. The release of the applicant in these circumstances would likely undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system.

“While this court does not rely on media narratives, the objective seriousness of the allegations and the applicant’s position are sufficient to conclude that his release will disturb public order,” he said.

Mosopa highlighted evidence presented during the bail proceedings regarding ammunition, cash and police equipment allegedly found in Nkosi’s possession.

“The fact that he is a police officer and abuses trust. This is against the backdrop that the police officer keeps a large amount of unexplained cash. He keeps unlawful ammunition. There is also a firearm register where there is no evidence that such has been reported to the SAPS,” he said.

The court heard that approximately 490 rounds of ammunition of various calibres were allegedly found in Nkosi’s possession.

According to the judgment, additional ammunition was later returned to SAPS, including R5 rifle ammunition issued to him during his service.

Potgieter contended that the magistrate had erred in both fact and law and that the High Court should overturn the ruling.

He disputed the significance of the ammunition discovered during the search of Nkosi’s home.

“With the number of firearms that the appellant has registered to his name, 400 rounds of ammunition is not a large quantity. He’s a licensed gun owner. The firearms and ammunition were seized by the police; they’re no longer in his possession. So, the reason that he would place society in danger does not exist any more because they were taken by the police,” Potgieter said.

But Mosopa was unconvinced, finding that the magistrate had properly considered all relevant evidence and legal principles.

Nkosi will remain in custody. His next appearance in court is set for 22 July.

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The country’s top justice and policing officials pledged tighter coordination to tackle rampant gang violence and improve community safety after meeting residents of Mitchells Plain and Mfuleni on Tuesday.

National police commissioner Fannie Masemola, Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel, acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and Deputy Minister of Police Polly Boshielo joined senior criminal justice leaders to hear community concerns ranging from unemployment and youth gang recruitment to substance abuse and access to recreational facilities.

The visit followed the execution-style killing of an accused person outside the Athlone Magistrate’s Court after a court appearance – a case Nel described as highlighting “serious security gaps” around high-risk courts.

“Athlone itself has long been marked as a high-risk court, with incidents of drug smuggling, gang-linked intimidation and shootings in the vicinity,” he said.

Nel stressed that combating crime and gangsterism required “a coordinated, whole-of-government response” involving police, prosecutors, correctional services, social development, and local communities.

Measures under way include strengthening court security, upgrading infrastructure, and expanding the use of technology such as virtual hearings and integrated case management systems.

“Sport, skills development and community-based initiatives are essential in steering young people away from crime,” Nel added, pledging closer work with municipal authorities and civil society to improve access to such programmes.

Cachalia said concrete steps were being taken to combat “high rates of murder, extortion, rape and gangsterism in schools” and said the communities were seeking boosting of police visibility, more resources, and increasing the number of police stations in affected areas.

Authorities also committed to make courts safer and more accessible as centres not only for criminal and civil trials but also for broader justice services, including domestic violence protection orders and maintenance matters.

Nel said he has yet to meet with Cachalia and the Judge President of the Western Cape Nolwazi Mabindla-Boqwana to discuss measures to curb killings near courthouses and ensure courts remain secure for the judiciary, prosecutors, legal practitioners, and the public.

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