Gauteng Organised Crime Unit officer Sergeant Fannie Nkosi disputes the testimony of suspended Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL News
Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, a Gauteng Organised Crime Unit officer, has cast doubt on the credibility of suspended Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya's testimony regarding their interaction with alleged crime mastermind Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.
Nkosi resumed his testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Monday after it was postponed last month because he fell ill and was hospitalised.
During his previous appearance he testified that Sibiya asked him in 2024 to go downstairs to fetch Matlala, who had come to see Sibiya about challenges with the R360-million tender with SAPS.
Sibiya told the commission he would not send Nkosi to collect a visitor because he had his own personal assistant to execute that task.
But, Nkosi insisted that according to his knowledge it was Matlala's first meeting with Sibiya in his presence.
Nkosi said during the meeting in question Sibiya asked him to be a middleman between Sibiya and Matlala because Sibiya was often busy. Sibiya denied making such a request.
"When I was previously here I said it would be around 2023 or early 2024. Then I went back to recall that it must have been around 2024 September given that Matlala had problems with his SAPS contract at the time," he said.
Sibiya also testified that he told Nkosi he did not need impalas, citing that they die fast and he could not afford the upkeep, having previously spent around R12,000 a month on them.
Sibiya told the commission that no impalas were delivered to his plot because he "was not going to accept anything from a service provider".
Nkosi confirmed during his previous testimony that a voice note message from someone wanting to know the location to deliver the impalas was sent to him by Matlala.
On Monday, he stuck to his version, despite Sibiya saying he told him that he did not want impalas.
Nkosi said Sibiya did not specify that he did not want anything from Matlala or a service provider.
He also contradicted Sibiya's testimony that Sibiya asked him during a September 14, 2024 thanksgiving ceremony at Sibiya's Centurion plot to call Matlala to pick up his wife who was drunk. Nkosi said Sibiya only told him to "tell Cat to make a turn".
Nkosi also came under scrutiny for the role he played in the case of social media commentator Musa Khawula after businessman Zee Nxumalo and ANC secretary Fikile Mbalula complained about Khawula's offensive social media posts.
Nkosi's interactions with complainant Nxumalo raised eyebrows, with WhatsApp chats revealing Nxumalo's persistent pressure on Nkosi to facilitate Khawula's arrest, despite Nkosi not being the investigating officer in the case.
Nxumalo forwarded a copy of the arrest warrant issued in October 2023 to Nkosi stating Khawula contravened the Cyber Act, but Nkosi testified that he also received the warrant from Brigadier Ramangwa, who was leading the investigation team into Khawula.
Nxumalo had also sent Nkosi a contact card for Khawula, a profiling report for Khawula, and a document identifying details of Khawula and his home address.
The commission was told that Nxumalo offered Nkosi six concert tickets at Kroonstad, hoping Khawula would be in attendance for the police to arrest him. The tickets included three VIP passes worth R1,000 each and three general admission tickets worth R200 each.
Nkosi cited logistical issues, stating that SAPS could not purchase the tickets because the concert was on a weekend, and the police finance department is only open weekdays.
Nkosi told the commission that the police operation to arrest Khawula was unsuccessful because he was not at the concert.
When asked if SAPS refunded Nxumalo for the concert tickets, Nkosi said he advised Nxumalo to submit a statement claiming the expenses were for police operational costs, potentially allowing him to reclaim the funds. He was unclear if Nxumalo followed through with his suggestion.
Co-commissioner Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC raised concerns that Nxumalo, who was a complainant, seemed to direct the investigation, "telling the police what to do where to go," despite Nkosi's testimony that he was frustrated with the investigation.
Nkosi said Nxumalo might have acted out of desperation because the situation was affecting his marriage.
But Baloyi stated that the picture emerging from WhatsApp chats showed Nxumalo telling the police what to do and when regarding their investigation.
Nkosi said: "I think it is an issue with Zulu men. They like to take over control."
Co-commissioner Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC questioned the logic of deploying six officers to Kroonstad to track down Khawula at Nxumalo's behest, suggesting it wasted resources when local SAPS officers could have handled the task.
Nkosi said the investigating officer for the case was supposed to be part of the operation but he never showed up.
Nkosi's testimony continues.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za