Madlanga Commission to resume testimony from Gauteng traffic police boss Samuel Mashaba

Chief Samuel Mashaba, the Chief Provincial Inspector of Gauteng Traffic Police, will be cross‑questioned at the Madlanga Commission when it resumes his testimony on Thursday. Mashaba’s evidence follows a statement he read into the record on Wednesday.

Focus of the inquiry

The commission is investigating drug busts and related allegations of wrongdoing and criminality, with a specific focus on the R300 million Aeroton drug bust in Gauteng. Mashaba’s testimony forms part of that broader inquiry.

Allegations and arrests

Mashaba is one of four law enforcement officers who were arrested at the Aeroton bust scene by members of the Hawks on allegations of dealing in drugs. In his testimony, he accused Major General Feroz Khan, the deputy head of Crime Intelligence and head of Counter and Security Intelligence, of interfering at the scene.

Mashaba said Khan did not get the briefing from them, that Khan stopped everything, and that the scene fell into chaos. He also highlighted what he described as poor treatment while in custody and said Hawks officers arrested them to take credit for the operation’s success.

Related testimony and questions

Earlier testimony at the commission came from a Hawks TOMMS officer identified as Witness I. Witness I accused Khan and Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, the Gauteng Provincial Head of the Hawks, of interfering at the Aeroton scene.

Witness I also disclosed a personal connection to tenderpreneur Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, saying he had stayed at Matlala’s family home in Mamelodi for two years. He submitted a supplementary affidavit and said there was a plot to discredit him. The commission noted inconsistencies in his testimony, including that Witness I could not explain why he assumed he should have taken over the Aeroton scene instead of the Hawks.

What to expect

The commission will continue cross‑examination of Mashaba on Thursday, examining the statements he provided and the allegations about interference, arrests and conduct during and after the Aeroton operation.