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WATCH | Hawks General Flynn to testify at Madlanga Commission on drug bust allegations

Simon Majadibodu|Published

Major General Hendrik Flynn, a senior Hawks official, is expected to testify before the Madlanga Commission on alleged criminality in organised crime investigations.

Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers

The Madlanga Commission is set to hear testimony on Tuesday from Major General Hendrik Flynn, component head for serious organised crime at the Hawks, on allegations of criminality and corruption linked to drug busts.

Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said proceedings would continue after difficulties arose on Monday with a witness who was testifying.

Flynn is from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks.

The commission’s evidence leader is Advocate Lee Segeels-Ncube.

On Monday, the chairperson of the Madlanga Commission, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, ruled that all proceedings involving a key crime intelligence witness, known as Witness G, will be held in camera, due to security and practical concerns.

This comes after evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson SC asked her read parts of her testimony into the record. 

She refused, saying she feared for her safety and that the material contained names that could identify her.

“I can’t give them aloud. They have got people’s names that are attached to me,” she said.

Chaskalson said the commission would need to resolve the matter before substantive questioning began, noting that many of his questions would involve relationships between Witness G, North West businessman Brown Mogotsi and other individuals.

“I think we need to resolve this issue now rather than when we get to the intrusive questioning,” he said. “If these are issues we cannot mention publicly, then most of my questioning is going to touch on issues that cannot be mentioned publicly.”

Meanwhile, Justice Madlanga said a prior directive issued on April 24, 2026, which allowed Witness G’s testimony to be heard partly in public and partly in camera, had become impractical. 

He therefore withdrew the order and replaced it with a ruling for fully closed proceedings.

“One problem is that the order of 24 April 2026 said the testimony would be partly in camera, in the sense that the witness’s testimony would not be heard by members of the public, and also partly in camera but to be heard by members of the public,” Madlanga said.

“There is a standing order to that effect. I have to recall that order, and I do so purely because, as I have explained, it has become impractical for us to proceed along those lines. For that reason, we will now proceed fully in camera.”

He apologised to the public and the media for the change.

Witness G, is believed to be involved in crime intelligence operations with agents and informants.

Her lawyer, Tshepo Matlala, also indicated that she preferred to testify remotely and off camera.

She giving evidence relating to alleged criminality, political interference and corruption within the criminal justice system.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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