WhatsApp messages between President Cyril Ramaphosa’s former political adviser, Bejani Chauke, and late Mpumalanga taxi boss Jotham “King Mswazi” Msibi regarding illicit surveillance equipment are set to be examined by the Madlanga Commission.
The surveillance device, commonly known as a “grabber”, is capable of intercepting cellphone communications, tracking locations, cloning phones, and monitoring calls. Under South African law, the equipment may only be used by national security agencies operating under strict legal oversight.
Alongside the discussions about the spy technology, the commission is also looking into a June 2022 meeting between Msibi and Ramaphosa.
Commission issues notice over five years of messages
The inquiry’s interest in Chauke emerged this week after it was revealed that the commission had served him with a Regulation 10(6) notice, instructing him to explain his relationship and electronic communications with Msibi between 2018 and 2023.
According to a highly placed source, data extracted from the late taxi boss’s cellphone revealed messages setting up the June 2022 meeting between Msibi and Ramaphosa, where matters relating to the taxi industry were reportedly discussed. The chats also allegedly touched on the capabilities of the surveillance equipment Msibi was attempting to import from the Czech Republic.
The Madlanga Commission — which was set up to investigate systemic corruption and criminality within South Africa’s criminal justice system — zeroed in on Msibi after evidence uncovered an extensive web of dealings between the late taxi kingpin, law enforcement officers, and senior government officials.
Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson previously outlined how WhatsApp records pointed to an alleged scheme involving Msibi, Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, Katiso “KT” Molefe, and Steven Motsumi. The group allegedly plotted to procure Czech-manufactured interception equipment using the South African Police Service (SAPS) as a front, with plans to trade or resell the technology in Eswatini.
Running alongside those dealings were the messages between Msibi and Chauke. The exchanges have raised questions around why Chauke arranged the June 2022 introduction between Msibi and the president, whether Ramaphosa knew about their prior correspondence before the meeting took place, and how discussions about state-grade surveillance technology overlapped with Chauke’s official role.
Chauke says dealings with Msibi were above board
Chauke confirmed this week that he had received the notice and submitted a detailed sworn affidavit to the commission, maintaining that his interactions with Msibi were entirely innocent.
“I have delivered a sworn statement to the commission in answer to its Regulation 10(6) notice … The commission has confirmed that only one such notice was issued and that my answer was received,” he said.
“I have not been summoned to appear. My statement is on record at the commission. My communications with the late Mr Msibi concerned Santaco [the South African National Taxi Council] and taxi-industry matters. I do not intend to comment further on these issues in the media while they are before the commission.”
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya declined to comment on the matter on Saturday.
When asked whether Chauke’s affidavit had satisfied investigators or if a formal summons would follow, commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels declined to be drawn into specifics.
“The commission does not provide details of whether a specific witness may or may not be appearing before it,” Michaels said.
“The commission does not comment publicly on whether it is engaged in confidential communication with any individual/s, unless such communication has been ventilated in an open hearing.”
A string of past controversies
The latest scrutiny adds to a series of high-profile controversies involving Chauke, who served as Ramaphosa’s chief political strategist from 2018 to 2023 and was a central figure in the CR17 campaign that propelled Ramaphosa to the ANC presidency.
Chauke has previously been thrust into the spotlight over the February 2020 burglary at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm, where an estimated $580,000 in cash was stolen.
Former State Security Agency director-general Arthur Fraser alleged that Chauke played a key role in bringing millions of US dollars into South Africa from countries including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, claiming the cash was hidden inside furniture at a Hyde Park home before being moved to Phala Phala. Chauke has consistently rejected Fraser’s allegations as “fiction” and politically motivated smears.
He also came under fire over a June 2020 cross-border trip to Namibia alongside the head of the presidential protection unit, Major General Wally Rhoode.
An investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) found that Rhoode had unlawfully included Chauke in diplomatic security meetings and allocated VIP protection resources to him, even though official records showed Chauke did not qualify for such cover. While IPID declared the spending on the trip fruitless and wasteful, Chauke maintained that the journey was an authorised national security mission approved by Ramaphosa.
Despite the ongoing controversies, Chauke remains an influential figure within the ANC. Following the May 2024 general elections, he was sworn in as a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly, only to resign four days later after senior party leaders reportedly asked him to step down so he could focus on fundraising and stabilising the ANC’s finances at Luthuli House.