The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has been rocked by testimony suggesting that the arrest of controversial social media commentator Musa Khawula was not a standard police operation, but rather the result of high-level political directives.
Witness F testified before the commission that the SAPS faced significant “pressure” from the office of former Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale to fast-track a warrant of arrest against Khawula.
The Alleged Political Pipeline
According to the testimony, the instruction to apprehend Khawula bypassed traditional policing protocols. Witness F detailed a chain of command that reportedly moved from political offices directly to senior police leadership.
- The Directive: Witness F claimed to have received a call from the now-suspended Deputy Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya, who allegedly emphasized that the matter was of “importance” due to pressure from Mathale’s office.
- The Complainants: The charges of crimen injuria on the warrant were linked to complaints filed by two high-profile figures: ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula and businessman Ze Nxumalo.
- The “Cartel” Connection: The timing of the warrant coincided with Khawula’s public “exposé” of alleged cartel figure Vusi “Cat” Matlala. Witness F admitted to sharing the warrant with Matlala to assist in locating Khawula—a move met with a chilling “Asbonge” (Thank you) from Matlala.
A History of Legal Battles
The hearing shed light on the mounting legal pressure Khawula has faced over the last two years:
- Defamation Claims: In October 2024, Ze Nxumalo demanded a retraction after Khawula posted allegations regarding his marriage to Dr. Tamaryn Green-Nxumalo.
- Contempt of Court: In July 2024, Khawula served a 90-day jail sentence for defying a court order obtained by Nozuko Mbalula, which barred him from making further corruption allegations against her.
