SAPS Ballistics Experts To Take The Stand At The Madlanga Commission In Armand Swart Murder Probe

As the Madlanga Commission continues its probe into the politically charged murder of engineer Armand Swart, two senior police ballistics experts are expected to shed light on the handling of evidence that could define the case’s credibility.

Forensics Under The Microscope

On Tuesday, the commission in Pretoria will hear testimony from Captain Solomon Modisane and Captain Meldon Mkhatshwa, both from the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Political Killings Task Team. The duo is set to walk the commission through the intricate details of how ballistic evidence tied to Swart’s murder was gathered, analyzed, and preserved a process now under sharp public and legal scrutiny.

Their testimony follows a heated session on Monday when Brigadier Mishak Mkhabela, another SAPS ballistics specialist, fiercely defended the integrity of the Swart ballistics report. Mkhabela maintained that the evidence “was never tampered with,” but admitted to procedural lapses caused by chronic staff shortages and a heavy national caseload.

The Case That Shook Confidence In SAPS

Swart’s death he was gunned down in 2024 under mysterious circumstances sparked national outrage and renewed concerns over South Africa’s deepening crisis of political and targeted violence. The case has become a litmus test for the SAPS’s ability to handle high-stakes, politically sensitive investigations transparently.

Adding to the controversy, Mkhabela conceded he was unaware that the Swart and Bramley dockets had been quietly transferred from his Pretoria office to a KwaZulu-Natal forensic lab a revelation that raised eyebrows within the commission and on social media, where South Africans have demanded greater accountability from law enforcement.

Inside The SAPS Forensic Backlog

In a striking admission, Mkhabela revealed that police had repurposed a museum into a makeshift firearm storage facility to accommodate more than 29,000 confiscated guns tied to killings across the country. “We live in a dangerous country,” he told the commission a statement that has since resonated across social media, with many users calling it “a grim truth we can’t ignore.”

What Happens Next

Tuesday’s testimony is expected to focus on the chain of custody and forensic integrity of ballistic evidence, areas often plagued by administrative challenges in the SAPS. The hearing resumes at 09:30am at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria, with public attention sharply fixed on whether the commission will uncover deeper flaws in how the state handles its most politically explosive murder cases.

{Source:IOL}

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