SA Police Service (SAPS) Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo has told the Madlanga Commission that not all of his evidence will be made public, and that he would apply to the commission to share some information in camera.
Khumalo took the witness box on Monday as the fifth witness before the commission investigating claims that the country’s criminal justice system has been infiltrated and captured by criminals.
In his opening remarks, he informed the commission that some of his evidence, which pertains to active Gauteng counter-intelligence operations investigating high-profile murders, would not be heard in public.
Much focus has been on the intelligence boss to produce evidence of the accusations and claims made by his boss, national commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola, and KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Khumalo is a key witness at the commission because he serves as the national convener of the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team, which has been central to the commission’s investigation.
Police minister Senzo Mchunu's deactivation of the team on December 31 2024 has been labelled by Masemola and Mkhwanazi as a move to protect cartels investigated by the task team working with Gauteng intelligence operations, under Khumalo’s leadership.
“There is considerably more evidence that cannot be shared in public. Sharing some of the evidence exposes some of our methodologies,” Khumalo said.
He said there was a high risk to the Gauteng counter-intelligence operation investigations.
“After giving oral evidence, I will apply to the commission for the remaining evidence to be heard in camera without compromising the current ongoing investigations for the safety of those involved and the protection of the investigation,” he said. “If there is some evidence that can be safely shared in public, we will do so.”
Khumalo did not stipulate the exact evidence that would be heard in camera. He is expected to give evidence that links Mchunu and his predecessor, Bheki Cele, to businessperson and attempted murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Matlala was arrested after the task team and Gauteng team raided his house. He had a R360m tender with SAPS.
President Cyril Ramaphosa established the commission to investigate Mkhwanazi’s claims that criminals had captured the country’s criminal justice system.
It is chaired by retired constitutional court justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, and his co-panellists are advocates Sesi Baloyi and Sandile Khumalo.
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