Here’s a bombshell that’s rocking South Africa’s law enforcement to its core: allegations of high-ranking police officials colluding with criminal cartels are no longer just whispers in the wind. In a jaw-dropping revelation before the Madlanga Commission, Crime Intelligence Head Lt-Gen. Dumisani Khumalo has pointed the finger at suspended deputy police commissioner Lt-Gen. Shadrack Sibiya, accusing him of using a trusted subordinate, Sergeant F. Nkosi, as a middleman to collect bribes from notorious underworld figures. But here’s where it gets even more shocking—this isn’t just about one-off payments; it’s about a systemic web of corruption that allegedly involves millions in cash, exotic gifts, and even strategic property investments.
Nkosi, stationed at the SAPS head office in Pretoria under Sibiya’s command, was reportedly the go-to officer for both Sibiya and high-profile criminals. Khumalo’s testimony was backed by hard evidence: CCTV footage and photographs from November 27 last year show Nkosi visiting the Sandhurst mansion of Katiso “KT” Molefe, a businessman accused of murder. In the footage, Nkosi arrives shortly after 4 p.m., spends less than ten minutes inside, and emerges carrying a large white paper bag—a scene that raises more questions than answers. “It’s as if he came to pick up something pre-arranged,” Khumalo noted, leaving little room for innocent interpretation.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Witness C, whose identity remains protected, claims Nkosi was a regular courier for Sibiya, collecting bribe payments not just from Molefe but also from Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, a tender tycoon facing corruption and racketeering charges. According to the witness, Matlala allegedly showered Sibiya with extravagant gifts, including 20 impalas and millions in cash. One instance even involved hiding R200,000 in a dustbin at Sibiya’s Pretoria office—a detail that’s as bizarre as it is damning.
And this is the part most people miss: just ten days after Nkosi’s visit to Molefe’s mansion, Molefe was arrested in a joint operation by the GCIOPS and PKTT units. However, the operation was reportedly marred by interference from members of the Hawks, raising questions about how deep this corruption runs. Investigators are now combing through Matlala’s bank accounts to trace the cash movements, but the bigger question remains: How many more officials are entangled in this web?
Khumalo’s testimony continues on Wednesday, and the nation is on the edge of its seat. Is this the tip of the iceberg, or just a single thread in a much larger tapestry of corruption? What do you think? Are these allegations a wake-up call for systemic reform, or an isolated incident blown out of proportion? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation South Africa can’t afford to ignore.
