Johannesburg Police Officer Linked to Hitman Network, Madlanga Witness Reveals

Johannesburg Police Officer Linked to Hitman Network, Madlanga Witness Reveals

An anonymous Gauteng police investigator has sent shockwaves through the Madlanga Commission this week, revealing that a Johannesburg police officer allegedly acted as a hitman, targeting the wrong person in a high-profile whistleblower case.

The case revolves around Armand Swart, an engineer at a Transnet-linked company, mistakenly killed by assassins who believed he was a whistleblower exposing massive overpricing on engineering tenders. Witness A, a member of SAPS’s organised crime unit, testified that Detective Michael Pule Tau was in frequent contact with controversial businessman Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe, coordinating movements and sharing Swart’s work address.

Burner Phones, CCTV, and Car Tracking: The Evidence

According to Witness A, Tau and Molefe used burner phones to avoid detection, and Tau “scouted” Swart’s office prior to the killing. The evening before the murder, Tau visited Molefe’s home in Johannesburg. Following the attack, in which Swart was shot 23 times, Tau allegedly reassured Molefe via text that “it had gone well.”

Investigators also uncovered CCTV footage and vehicle tracking data showing coordinated surveillance of Swart’s workplace. Additional links were made through duplicate number plates and connections to family members of alleged accomplices.

Witness Protection in the Spotlight

For safety reasons, Witness A testified remotely and anonymously, reflecting ongoing threats faced by police officers exposing corruption. Evidence leader Mahlapa Sello explained the measures:

“The witness has lived in safe houses for an extended period and wants to present evidence publicly without revealing their identity.”

This level of protection highlights the dangers confronting officers attempting to tackle corruption from within the force itself.

A Wider Network of Corruption

The testimony also shed light on the broader context of police collusion with organised crime. The investigation into Swart’s murder led to arrests in Bramley and Kliprivier, including Tau and alleged hitmen Tiego Mabusela and Musa Kekana. Witness A noted that other police officers supportive of Tau had threatened and intimidated the investigating unit, at times attempting to run them off the road after court appearances.

These revelations add to mounting evidence before the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s ad hoc committee regarding corruption and collusion at senior levels of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Political Interference and the PKTT

The Madlanga Commission was established after KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged political interference and collusion with criminal syndicates. Central to these allegations is suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, accused of disbanding the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) without consulting senior police officers, allegedly under pressure from Gauteng-based criminal networks.

Mchunu has defended his decision, claiming the PKTT was never a permanent police structure and did not require consultation with top law enforcement. Meanwhile, Parliament continues to conduct a parallel inquiry into the same allegations.

The Human Cost

Beyond the politics and procedures, Witness A’s testimony paints a stark picture of the dangers whistleblowers and law enforcement officers face when confronting organised crime. Mistaken identities, hitmen with inside knowledge, and corrupt police officers all converge to show a system under siege from within.

As the commission continues to hear from additional anonymous witnesses, South Africans are left questioning not only the integrity of their police service but also the true extent of political and criminal collusion undermining justice in the country.

{Source: Mail & Guardian}

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