An elite Gauteng detective has unveiled a stunning web of alleged connections linking EFF leader Julius Malema, suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, and a shadowy Sandton businessman at the heart of a murder investigation.
Testifying under partial secrecy at the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday, the officer, identified only as Witness ‘A’, claimed the head of the country’s Organised Crime unit, Major General Richard Shibiri, personally mapped out these relationships for him.
The revelation came following the arrest of multi-millionaire Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe, a key suspect in the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart. Witness A stated that Shibiri informed him that Molefe was part of a powerful group of five individuals with significant mining interests in the North West province.
The Chain of Alleged Influence
According to the testimony, Shibiri then detailed a direct chain of association:
- The Businessman: He identified a “close associate” of Julius Malema as “ZE Nxumalo,” a Sandton-based businessman linked to the same mining group.
- The Politician: Shibiri explicitly described Nxumalo as a “close friend of Julius Malema.”
- The Police General: The Organized Crime head then connected Malema directly to the suspended Deputy National Commissioner, stating the politician “tends to be close to General [Shadrack] Sibiya.”
In one concise briefing, the witness alleged Shibiri painted a picture of a powerful network connecting a murder suspect, through a wealthy businessman and a fiery political leader, right to the upper echelons of the South African Police Service.
A Commission Underpinned by Corruption Claims
The Madlanga Commission is tasked with investigating deep-seated allegations of collusion between politicians, senior police officials, and prosecutors. This testimony provides the most explicit public outline yet of the specific relationships under scrutiny, suggesting that high-level political and police loyalties may be intertwined with criminal investigations and lucrative business interests in the North West.
The commission continues its work, with this testimony representing a direct challenge to the deniability of key political and police figures.
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