Johannesburg – The Madlanga Commission, probing allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption within the South African criminal justice system, has heard explosive testimony detailing the alleged collusion between high-ranking police officials and a figure described as a "cartel member" in the arrest of celebrity blogger Musa Khawula.
The testimony centres around Witness F, a police officer who worked under suspended deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya. Witness F's identity has been concealed by the commission due to safety concerns. He faced a failed attempt to block the admission of his WhatsApp communications with Sibiya and Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala as evidence before the commission.
According to Witness F, Sibiya instructed him to forward an arrest warrant for Khawula to Matlala, a tenderpreneur, so that he could "assist" in the blogger's apprehension. The warrant, issued on 21 October 2024, was for alleged contravention of Section 13 of the Cyber Crime Act through "malicious communications" and crimen injuria, reportedly for insulting ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and businessman Ze Nxumalo.
Witness F explained to the commission that Sibiya told him he had to forward the warrant to Matlala because, at the time, Matlala had a security company. Matlala allegedly told Sibiya that his company "always had provision where Musa usually goes on weekends," suggesting he had security personnel available to take Khawula into custody.
"I did not see any problem with it because usually the SAPS do work with private securities. I then forwarded it [the arrest warrant] to Mr Matlala," Witness F stated.
However, the legality of Matlala or his security officers arresting Khawula was challenged by commissioner Sesi Baloyi. The WhatsApp evidence presented to the commission revealed that Matlala was far from a neutral party in the planned arrest.
The commission heard that on 17 September 2024, three days after Sibiya allegedly invited Matlala to a "thanksgiving ceremony" at his home, Richard Shibiri, the police’s National Organised Crime head, forwarded what appeared to be an X post by Khawula to Witness F.
In that post, Khawula made several allegations against Matlala and his wife, Cordelia, including claims of criminal activity, connections to the "Boko Haram gang," fraud, and involvement in the killing of Babita Deokaran.
Shibiri then forwarded a message that Witness F believed to be from Matlala, stating: "Someone sent this to me yesterday and demanded money from me, or else they will publish this nonsense. I told them to go ahead with it. They’re trying to extort money from me."
WhatsApp records showed subsequent calls between Witness F and Shibiri, who then forwarded him a message he had sent Matlala, warning Khawula not to post stories about him as he was a "good guy" who "bothered no one".
The screenshot starts with Shibiri asking Khawula: “What u asking?”
Khawula: “How? How big? I’m hearing he’s dating Amahle. And apparently he is dangerous.”
Shibiri initiates a video call, then a voice call.
Khawula then states: “I’m hearing that Vusi [Matlala] is from Pretoria, he’s married to Cordelia. Vusi is apparently dating Amahle and he’s the one funding her lifestyle. I also heard that he, he has a child with Lebo. Info is still incoming.”
Shibiri: “Chommie don’t run the story. He’s a good guy. He never bothers anyone, and he lives a private life.”
Earlier evidence before the commission revealed that Shibiri was engaged in "constant communications and exchanges of money" with Matlala. Witness B, another police witness whose identity is concealed, testified that after Matlala's arrest, investigators found that Shibiri had a relationship with Matlala, with WhatsApps and voice notes exchanged between December 2024 and May 2025.
Witness F told the commission he was placed under significant pressure to arrest Khawula during a weekend bike ride and received repeated calls about this from Sibiya. He said Sibiya stressed "that this matter is a matter of importance" and added that he was "getting a pressure" about Khawula’s arrest from Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale.
Mathale has denied these claims, telling News24: "I have never had any such discussion with General Sibiya for the arrest of Musa Khawula or any other person. I am also not aware of anyone who would have given such pressure from my office."
Mbalula also responded to questions from News24, stating that Witness F was "lying." He explained that it was his wife, Nozuko, who had opened a crimen injuria case against Khawula after he defied a May 2024 High Court order to retract "false and defamatory" claims that she was involved in a fraud and corruption scandal.
Mbalula said he believed that his wife’s case had been "used … to basically chase this boy and arrest him." He and his wife were "not aware" that the arrest warrant for Khawula had been sent to Matlala.
Witness F confirmed that a Hawks officer and "tracking team" had been involved in finding Khawula, arresting him in KwaZulu-Natal, and then detaining him in the Sandton police station cells, before he appeared in the Randburg Magistrate's Court – where Mbalula said the case against him was eventually thrown out.
The commission also heard that WhatsApp chats extracted from Witness F revealed that Matlala allegedly met with Shibiri at Sibiya’s home. Witness F said the meeting on 14 September 2024, was a thanksgiving event. He became aware of Sibiya and Matlala’s relationship in December 2023, when Sibiya asked him to fetch Matlala, who was there to complain about his tender with SAPS.
Khawula was jailed for 90 days for contempt of court in July 2024 after refusing to comply with a defamation verdict obtained by Mbalula’s wife, which barred Khawula from posting corruption allegations about her on X. He also made defamatory claims about Nxumalo in October 2024, stating that "Dr Tamaryn Green-Nxumalo is with child while her husband Ze Nxumalo is cheating on her."
The commission continues its hearing today, with Witness F’s testimony set to resume on Friday. Khawula had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
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