Madlanga Commission Uncovers New Twist in KT Molefe Raid: Ex-Hawks Boss Lebeya Implicated in Sandton Operation

Hawks Under Scrutiny Again as Madlanga Commission Probes KT Molefe Arrest

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry took an unexpected turn this week when shocking testimony suggested that former Hawks head Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya personally directed his team to act on the day of Katiso “KT” Molefe’s high-profile arrest in Sandton.

Speaking before the commission on Monday, Hawks’ National Priority Offences Unit commander, Major-General Dumisani Mbotho, told the inquiry that it was Lebeya himself who phoned in and gave the Sandhurst address where Molefe, a businessman accused of murdering engineer Armand Swart, was later apprehended.

Mbotho testified that the call came after Lebeya received reports of bogus police officers raiding the property. “He asked if we were running an operation in Sandton,” Mbotho said. “When I confirmed we weren’t, he instructed me to check the address.”

A Confusing Operation

According to Mbotho, he dispatched an unmarked vehicle to observe the scene. The surveillance team reported back that no official Hawks operation was taking place there. Yet, under Lebeya’s direction, the address was forwarded to Brigadier Lesiba Mokoena, effectively setting in motion a chain of events that has now drawn national attention.

The Madlanga Commission, which is investigating possible political and institutional interference within law enforcement, is particularly interested in how and why the Hawks became entangled in Molefe’s arrest, an operation formally executed by the SAPS.

Molefe’s Arrest and Murder Allegations

Molefe, long known in Sandton circles for his wealth and connections, was arrested on December 6, 2024, at his multimillion-rand Sandhurst home. His arrest followed the murder of civil engineer Armand Swart, whose killing sent shockwaves through Johannesburg’s affluent north.

The raid itself was chaotic, with early reports suggesting that unauthorised individuals posing as police officers were present at the scene, a claim that initially drew Lebeya’s attention.

But as the commission now hears, the true level of Hawks involvement and possible interference remains murky.

Lies, Leaks and WhatsApp Groups

The inquiry’s tension escalated further when Brigadier Mokoena, the officer to whom Mbotho sent the address, was ordered back to the witness stand after evidence surfaced that he lied under oath.

Investigators uncovered that Mokoena had denied being part of a WhatsApp group where details about Molefe’s takedown were allegedly shared. For the commission, this revelation raises troubling questions about coordination, accountability, and internal integrity within elite police units.

Familiar Names, Familiar Patterns

The Madlanga Commission, established to probe political meddling and corruption across the justice and policing landscape, has become a window into how power networks may have influenced criminal investigations in South Africa.

Lebeya’s name now joins a growing list of senior law enforcement figures called into question. This follows weeks of testimony linking various high-ranking officers to dubious communication chains and unexplained directives, especially in politically sensitive cases.

Public Reaction: “The Hawks Have Become Their Own Story”

Across social media, public frustration is mounting. Many South Africans expressed disbelief that the country’s top investigative unit could once again be embroiled in allegations of interference.

On X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote:

“When the Hawks start investigating each other, we know something’s deeply wrong in our justice system.”

Another added:

“This isn’t just about KT Molefe, it’s about a system where orders come from the top with no accountability.”

The commission is expected to recall more witnesses in the coming days, including Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, who fell ill during his earlier testimony.

With Lebeya’s alleged involvement now on record, the inquiry is inching closer to exposing what may have been a broader pattern of interference in elite policing operations.

For ordinary South Africans watching from the sidelines, the saga underscores a painful reality: when those entrusted with justice start operating in the shadows, the truth itself becomes a moving target.

{Source: IOL}

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