Power Struggle in the Shadows: Hawks and JMPD Accused of Blocking KT Molefe Arrest

Power Struggle in the Shadows: Hawks and JMPD Accused of Blocking KT Molefe Arrest

The world of South African law enforcement has once again been thrust into the spotlight and this time, it’s not for the right reasons. Explosive testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has painted a troubling picture of alleged infighting and interference among the country’s top policing units.

At the centre of the storm is Katiso “KT” Molefe, a businessman facing murder charges, and a dramatic night in December 2024 that now threatens to expose deep fractures within South Africa’s policing ranks.

The Night at Sandhurst: When the Cops Turned on Each Other

According to Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, head of the SAPS Crime Intelligence Division, what was meant to be a highly confidential takedown operation at Molefe’s Sandhurst home on 6 December 2024 descended into chaos.

A covert Gauteng Counter-Intelligence operations (GCI ops) team had been sent to arrest Molefe under a valid J50 warrant. But instead of cooperation, they reportedly found themselves face-to-face with another law enforcement unit, the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS) who appeared without warning and began questioning the legitimacy of the operation.

Khumalo told the commission that the Hawks’ presence wasn’t accidental. He claimed the team had been “activated under the pretence of investigating police impersonation”, but in reality, their appearance disrupted a lawful arrest.

Witnesses described how the Hawks officers acted aggressively, demanding case numbers and warrant details the GCI team refused to reveal, citing operational secrecy. Above the house, a Gauteng Traffic Police helicopter hovered alarmingly low, adding to the confusion.

Who Sent the Hawks?

The Hawks’ sudden intervention was reportedly ordered by Brigadier Lesiba “Kleintjie” Mokoena, who wanted to confirm whether the operation was legitimate and if any officers were falsely claiming orders from the now-retired Hawks boss, Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya.

But the timing and execution of that “check” raised serious suspicions, particularly as several witnesses testified that the Hawks’ involvement “interfered with and compromised” the operation.

Khumalo went further, accusing the Hawks and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) of “defeating the ends of justice.”

Inside Help and Leaks: The Role of a JMPD Officer

The plot thickened when Khumalo named JMPD officer Johannes Mokgatle as a possible insider who leaked details of the covert operation to Molefe.

Khumalo told the commission that Mokgatle had “abused SAPS systems” to provide Molefe with sensitive intelligence about the operation something only an experienced insider could manage.

In a twist that seems lifted from a crime thriller, Mokgatle reportedly told superiors he was “on official duty” at the time of the raid, yet his commander confirmed he had called in sick that very day.

“In my view, this was not just interference,” Khumalo said firmly. “This was a clear obstruction of justice.”

The Hawks Admit Interference

On Monday, before Khumalo’s testimony, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Mbotho, head of National Priority Offences at the Hawks, admitted that his officers had in fact interfered with the Molefe arrest.

Their justification? They were simply “verifying the warrant and identity” of the person being arrested. But to Khumalo and others, this reasoning rings hollow especially given the sensitivity of the Molefe case and the alleged tip-offs that compromised the operation.

A Symptom of a Bigger Problem

For many South Africans following the inquiry, the Molefe saga underscores what’s wrong with the country’s security apparatus, a turf war between elite units that should be working together to fight crime, not each other.

On social media, users voiced frustration that “politics within policing” continue to derail justice. “When cops fight cops, criminals win,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The Madlanga Commission’s work is far from over, but already the testimony has peeled back the curtain on how power, corruption, and ego can compromise even the most high-stakes investigations.

For now, the question remains: Was KT Molefe tipped off and if so, by whom?

Until that answer surfaces, South Africa’s faith in its justice system will remain under siege.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com