At the heart of Mkhwanazi’s claims is the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, a specialist unit formed in 2018 to investigate politically motivated assassinations. According to the commissioner, the unit was shuttered in March 2025 after uncovering links between organised crime, government officials, law enforcement, and judicial figures. He cited direct interference by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, claiming they unlawfully withdrew 121 high-priority case dockets. Mkhwanazi accused them of acting to protect a network of politically connected individuals, including businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who held a R360 million SAPS contract.

Evidence presented by Mkhwanazi included internal communications, WhatsApp messages, and alleged proof of payment connecting Matlala, Mchunu and an associate, Brown Mogotsi, in what the commissioner described as a coordinated attempt to neutralise the task team’s investigations.

Sibiya Denies Allegations, Calls Mkhwanazi “Rogue”

Responding to the charges, Sibiya rejected the allegations as baseless and damaging. He insisted he acted on lawful instructions from the National Commissioner, not the minister, and maintained that the decision to reassign the dockets was routine. Sibiya further claimed that the task team itself was under investigation for misconduct and accused Mkhwanazi of grandstanding and militarising the press briefing.

Sibiya also denied knowledge of procurement processes or any involvement with Matlala, insisting he had never participated in contract decisions or received case files personally. He suggested Mkhwanazi’s actions may be politically motivated and accused him of defying chain-of-command protocol.

Ramaphosa: Allegations “Grave,” National Security at Stake

In response to the growing scandal, President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged the seriousness of Mkhwanazi’s claims and pledged swift action. Speaking through his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, the president described the allegations as “a matter of grave concern” and “a national security issue.”

“The president regards it vital that at all material times we affirm the rule of law and we affirm the integrity of the security services,” Magwenya said. “It is also important that all the parties involved exercise restraint and avoid actions that are damaging to the unity and focus of the police.”

Ramaphosa, currently concluding his BRICS summit engagement, is expected to return to South Africa by midday Tuesday. His office confirmed that he will prioritise the matter upon arrival.

Parliament Reacts, “We Have Chaos”

The briefing has triggered a national outcry and renewed calls for a full-scale inquiry. Ian Cameron, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, described the allegations as “extremely serious” and “deeply troubling,” noting that some of the figures implicated, such as Matlala, have long evaded accountability despite repeated scrutiny.

“It is a massive cause for concern,” Cameron said. “This feels like the last remaining credibility within SAPS is being torn to pieces. Whether we agree with the optics of Mkhwanazi’s briefing or not, the substance demands urgent scrutiny. We cannot keep going like this.”

Cameron called for an integrity inquiry into SAPS senior management and acknowledged that Parliament had received prior reports of similar misconduct without seeing meaningful action.

DA and ActionSA Demand Parliamentary Debate

ActionSA representative Dereleen James echoed Cameron’s concerns, stating that “South Africans are being failed at every level.” She described the revelations as “shocking” and accused SAPS of being entangled in criminal activity rather than fighting it.

“We’ve asked questions week after week in the portfolio committee and received no answers,” she said. “We can’t trust SAPS to investigate itself. Parliament must take the lead. South Africans must demand accountability.”

Both James and Cameron have called for an urgent parliamentary debate and immediate intervention by the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Makashule Gana: Only the President Can Act

Makashule Gana, MP for Rise Mzansi, added his voice to the growing pressure, declaring that the crisis has escalated beyond Parliament’s capacity to contain. He called on President Ramaphosa to address the nation directly upon returning.

“These allegations strike at the very core of our security and justice system,” Gana said. “Only the President, as commander-in-chief, can provide the leadership this moment requires. We need a full judicial or presidential inquiry that goes beyond Parliament. The entire system may be compromised, from police to prosecutors to the judiciary.”

Gana warned that allowing the scandal to fester would empower criminal syndicates and deepen public mistrust. “These are not just internal squabbles. These are state institutions allegedly operating in collusion with criminals. The President must act now.”

Broader Implications

As of Monday evening, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), both cited in Mkhwanazi’s allegations, have yet to issue public statements.

Public confidence in SAPS continues to erode amid mounting reports of internal power struggles, senior arrests, and apparent sabotage of anti-crime initiatives.

This is a developing story.

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Those arrested include:

• Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, the Divisional Commissioner of Crime Intelligence,
• Major General Lushaba, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who has now been arrested for a second time,
• Major General Lekalakala, Gauteng’s Head of Crime Intelligence,
• Major General Madondo, who leads the Crime Intelligence Analysis Centre,
• Major General Gabela from SAPS Technology Services,
• Brigadier Mokwele, the Technical Support System Manager,
• Brigadier Ncube, Head of the Vetting Office.

The charges reportedly involve corruption, defeating the ends of justice, perjury, manipulation of recruitment processes, the looting of Crime Intelligence’s covert slush fund, and the unauthorised use of public funds. The arrests mark a significant turning point in what many observers see as an overdue effort to hold senior law enforcement officials accountable for systemic abuse of their positions.

A key figure in the unfolding scandal is Brigadier Mokwele, whose appointment to a senior post within SAPS has drawn intense scrutiny. Mokwele, who previously worked in cybersecurity at BMW South Africa, was appointed to a brigadier role in Crime Intelligence despite having no policing background. Her annual salary is reported to be close to R1 million. The appointment has come to symbolise the irregular hiring practices and internal favouritism that critics argue have undermined the integrity and professionalism of the division.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has strongly welcomed the arrests. Member of Parliament Dianne Kohler Barnard, the DA’s spokesperson on state security, issued a detailed statement in response to the developments. She said the arrests of Khumalo, Ncube, Madondo, and Gabela represent a long-overdue step toward salvaging a critical institution that has been pushed to the brink of collapse.

Kohler Barnard described the revelations as indicative of a serious breach of public trust within an institution tasked with safeguarding the country’s internal security and supporting police operations. She confirmed that the Democratic Alliance would maintain a watching brief on the investigation.

In February this year, Kohler Barnard wrote to the Inspector General of Intelligence, Imtiaz Fazel, after exposing that Crime Intelligence had allegedly spent R22.8 million on the purchase of a commercial property in Berea, Durban, and a further R22.7 million on a luxury boutique hotel in Pretoria North. These acquisitions were both authorised by Major General Lushaba in his capacity as CFO, and by Lieutenant General Khumalo. According to Kohler Barnard, the transactions were not only highly questionable but also symptomatic of a broader culture of financial mismanagement within the division.

“These properties appear to be just the tip of the iceberg,” she said, warning that the full scope of what is being uncovered could lead to the collapse of Crime Intelligence as an institution.

The crisis deepened earlier this month when it emerged that Major General Lushaba had handed himself over to the authorities. This followed an incident in which a sex worker allegedly stole his state-issued firearm and laptop. Lushaba reportedly lied about the circumstances surrounding the incident, an act that contributed directly to his arrest.

Compounding the situation are reports that key investigative dockets, including those related to Brigadier Mokwele’s controversial appointment, had mysteriously disappeared. These cases have since been reopened in Gauteng by Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams and prominent private investigator Paul O’Sullivan. They were escalated to IDAC, which is now spearheading a more aggressive phase of investigation and prosecution.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, has publicly expressed support for IDAC’s action. He described the arrests as “long overdue” and emphasised the importance of restoring public trust in SAPS. Cameron reiterated the committee’s stance that integrity audits, skills audits, lifestyle audits, and a thorough review of senior SAPS appointments are now urgent and non-negotiable.

Kohler Barnard also drew a direct line between the current scandal and the legacy of state capture under former president Jacob Zuma. She stated that Crime Intelligence had become a “cash cow for Zuma-aligned cronies” and called on Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to ensure that those found guilty face the full consequences of the law.

The Democratic Alliance, she said, had held out hope that Crime Intelligence was beginning to emerge from the shadow of the Richard Mdluli era, a period widely associated with political interference and misuse of intelligence resources. “Sadly for South Africa, that is not the case,” she concluded.

With more arrests anticipated in the coming days, the scandal now threatens to engulf broader elements of SAPS leadership, raising serious questions about accountability, oversight, and the future of South Africa’s intelligence and law enforcement capacity.

More arrests are expected as investigations continue.

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Across all briefings, a consistent message emerged: progress has been made, but systemic delays, institutional coordination challenges, and legal bottlenecks continue to hamper the timely resolution of corruption cases.

SIU Reports on Thousands of Referrals but Highlights Tracking Challenges

The SIU, mandated to investigate maladministration and corruption in state institutions, reported that it had referred 3,374 criminal matters to the NPA between April 2020 and May 2025. These referrals span local, provincial and national government departments, as well as numerous state-owned entities.

The unit emphasised that each referral represents a person or legal entity, not necessarily an individual case docket. This has led to difficulties reconciling figures with the NPA, which clusters individuals and entities into broader cases.

To address this, the SIU has developed a Case Monitoring Mechanism in collaboration with the Presidency and State Information Technology Agency (SITA). The new digital platform went live in April 2025 and aims to create a unified system for tracking referrals, standardising case references, and reporting progress across institutions. The pilot phase covers referrals to the North Gauteng office of the NPA and will be evaluated in July for national rollout.

The SIU confirmed that the offences under referral include corruption, fraud, money laundering, public finance violations, and misconduct related to procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hawks Outline Ongoing Investigations Involving Billions in State Funds

Major General M. Makinyane of the Hawks told SCOPA that his unit is managing 355 dockets arising from SIU referrals, representing investigations involving a wide array of departments and public entities.

Out of these:

• 72 cases have resulted in guilty verdicts
• 96 are before court
• 201 are under active investigation
• 58 await prosecutorial decision

The Hawks disclosed significant financial implications, with billions of rand potentially lost or misappropriated across key sectors. Notable figures include:

• Over R126 billion under investigation within the Department of Basic Education
• Nearly R738 million related to the Department of Water and Sanitation
• Around R437 billion involving municipalities

COVID-19 procurement fraud remains a substantial focus. Of 93 pandemic-related cases, 22 are before court with 73 accused (48 individuals and 25 corporate entities). Another 59 cases are still under investigation.

The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) is also under scrutiny. Eight SIU referrals have resulted in seven active dockets and one court case involving questionable funding to non-profit entities.

NPA Reports on Prosecutions, Challenges, and High-Profile Cases

The NPA, represented by its Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCCU), IDAC and the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), outlined the prosecution pipeline stemming from SIU referrals.

Key Highlights:

• 81 convictions in COVID-19-related prosecutions, many processed through the Fusion Centre
• 26 dockets under active investigation involving the NLC
• Major corruption trials stemming from State Capture Commission recommendations, including Transnet, Bosasa, and Estina Dairy Project

Several high-profile individuals, such as former Transnet CEO Brian Molefe, former CFO Anoj Singh, and former MP Vincent Smith, are either on trial or facing future court dates. The NPA noted, however, that some trials have been delayed by complex pre-trial motions or Section 342A inquiries, risking further postponements or even permanent stays of prosecution if not resolved efficiently.

Asset Forfeiture: Billions Frozen or Recovered, but Legal Opposition Mounts

The Asset Forfeiture Unit presented an assertive recovery record, reporting:

• 86 confiscation or forfeiture orders, totalling R4.784 billion
• 124 preservation orders, worth R12.6 billion
• Total recoveries to date of R4.3 billion

These include:

• R2.55 billion recovered from ABB in connection with Eskom contracts
• R480 million from settlements in the Tegeta/Optimum Colliery saga
• R1.115 billion from the McKinsey consultancy settlement
• Various preservation and restraint orders against assets linked to PRASA, Ethekwini Municipality, Denel, and others

The AFU stressed that while asset recovery is accelerating, many cases are heavily contested in court. For example, multiple preservation orders related to Lottery funding have been subjected to prolonged legal opposition.

The AFU also recommended possible legislative reform to the SIU Act, which currently channels all referrals through the NPA rather than directly to investigating authorities, thus adding procedural delays.

Despite the complexity and obstacles involved, the coordinated presentations painted a picture of a criminal justice system that is attempting to recalibrate itself in response to the sprawling legacy of State Capture. SCOPA was urged to continue its oversight, particularly regarding the Case Monitoring Mechanism and broader institutional coordination.

All agencies agreed on the need for sustained collaboration, policy reform, and adequate resourcing to maintain momentum in the fight against corruption. With several high-profile cases moving to trial in late 2025 and early 2026, South Africa’s legal and accountability frameworks are entering a decisive phase in their response to past public sector malfeasance.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa assented to the NPA Amendment Act in May, and on Thursday 15 August signed a proclamation bringing the Act into operation.

The establishment marked a “significant milestone in our fight against corruption,” said Minister Simelane, adding that “unlike the previous Investigating Directorate, IDAC’s permanence ensures its independence and the necessary parliamentary oversight.”

The NPA Amendment Act provides the IDAC with criminal investigation powers, with the Minister stating it would “enhance our capacity to combat complex corruption.”

It will further allow IDAC to “implement decisions from commissions of inquiry and uphold the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption, and Fraud in the Public Sector.”

The Minister noted the “necessary regulations for section 19D(3) and section 22A(4) of the NPA Act have been prepared and will be published on 19 August 2024. Additionally, we are finalising regulations under section 8, which will allow for the appointment of a retired judge to oversee complaints related to IDAC investigators.”

Having held a successful meeting between business stakeholders and government earlier this month, the Minister announced that a commitment had been made to collaborate in setting up a digital evidence unit.

“The unit will extract and analyse data from encrypted devices such as cellphones and laptops to come up with the evidence needed to prosecute criminal cases of corruption successfully, specifically [in] cases related to state capture,” said the Minister.

Clarifying on who would have access to such data, the Minister stated that “the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is the legal custodian of the Commission’s assets, including its data, on behalf of the South African State, government, and people. Law enforcement agencies have priority access to the data but do not have exclusive access or ownership.

“To facilitate this, the Commission amended its Regulation 11 to grant special access to its data,” noted the Minister, adding that the Commission had trained over 20 NPA investigators with the necessary skills to access its digital forensic platforms.

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