Ex-Hawks Boss Godfrey Lebeya Linked To Underworld Figure Katiso Molefe At Madlanga Commission

The Madlanga Commission took a tense turn on Monday as fresh testimony placed former Hawks head, Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya, directly in contact with suspected underworld boss Katiso “KT” Molefe a man accused of orchestrating the murder of a Vaal engineer.

A Link From The Top

Testifying before Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, senior Hawks officer Brigadier Dumisani Mbotho claimed that it was Lebeya himself who supplied him with Molefe’s Sandton home address on 6 December 2024, shortly before the suspect’s arrest.

That same address would later become central to Molefe’s capture by the South African Police Service (SAPS), after he was accused of masterminding the killing of Armand Swart, an engineer from the Vaal.

According to Mbotho, the connection came to light during an unexpected phone call from his then-boss. “General Lebeya asked me if I was aware of any Hawks operation in Sandton,” Mbotho testified. “He said he had received a call saying DPCI members were operating there and were allegedly sent by him.”

When pressed by Justice Madlanga about who had called Lebeya, Mbotho said he did not know and admitted he did not ask.

The Alleged Interference Question

Monday’s session focused heavily on whether there had been any interference by the Hawks during Molefe’s arrest a matter that has long drawn public scrutiny. The arrest itself was conducted by SAPS, not the Hawks, raising eyebrows about possible jurisdictional overreach and the chain of command inside South Africa’s top crime-fighting unit.

Months later, Mbotho said he discovered that the house in question was indeed Molefe’s an unsettling revelation that now sits at the heart of the Commission’s investigation.

Who Is Katiso “KT” Molefe?

Katiso Molefe, better known in criminal circles as “KT”, has been associated with Johannesburg’s underworld, allegedly linked to money laundering, extortion, and contract killings. His arrest last December marked a rare breakthrough in the city’s battle against organised crime, though questions about internal leaks and influence within law enforcement persist.

Public Reaction And Broader Context

Social media erupted following Monday’s revelations, with many South Africans expressing frustration over perceived corruption within the country’s elite policing units. On X, users called for greater transparency within the Hawks, while others argued that the Commission’s findings could expose long-standing networks of protection and interference.

For many in Pretoria and Johannesburg, the Madlanga Commission is not just about one case it’s a test of South Africa’s accountability in policing, and whether even the highest-ranking officers can be held to the same standards as those they investigate.

As the hearings continue, the public will be watching closely to see if this alleged link between a top law enforcement official and an accused crime boss will finally lead to meaningful reform or another missed opportunity in the fight against corruption.

{Source:EWN}

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