At a glance: Key takeaways from the week
- The “Big Five” Connection: Sergeant Fannie Nkosi confirmed a direct family link between Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane and the “Big Five” crime cartel, adding a chilling layer to the 2023 assassination of rapper AKA.
- Massive Cash Movements: Nkosi admitted to handling over R1.5 million in cash for luxury motorcycles, including a single deposit of 3,486 R100 notes for alleged crime boss KT Molefe.
- Tshwane Political Fallout: ActionSA MMC Kholofelo Morodi has been suspended following evidence she leaked internal city documents to Nkosi.
- The DJ Sumbody Mystery: The Commission grilled Nkosi on a WhatsApp message sent three days after DJ Sumbody’s murder, asking associates: “Why didn’t you call him to order?”
- Systemic Leaks: Evidence emerged of Nkosi sharing confidential police warrants—including one for blogger Musa Khawula—with unauthorized civilians.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA — This week at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into corruption and criminality within the South African police and justice system, the testimony of Gauteng Sergeant Fannie Nkosi peeled back the curtain on a shadowy world where the lines between law enforcement, organised crime, and municipal governance have been dangerously blurred.
The hearings, held in Pretoria, produced a cascade of revelations, painting a picture of a system compromised from within—validating President Ramaphosa’s recent move to break his silence on the “capture” of the security cluster.
The “man of God” and the R1.5 million cash jacket
Central to the week was Sergeant Nkosi, a member of the Organised Crime Unit, who found himself in the crosshairs of evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson and Commissioner Sesi Baloyi.
One of the most startling financial disclosures involved Nkosi’s role in facilitating large cash transactions. The commission heard how Nkosi handled over R1.5 million in cash, allegedly from late taxi boss Mswazi Msibi, to purchase luxury motorcycles for a group including Msibi, alleged “Big Five” member Mr. Mthakathi, and accused crime boss Katiso “KT” Molefe.
Nkosi, described as a trusted “man of God,” allegedly kept cash safe for Msibi, even sending a photo of money stuffed inside a Harley-Davidson jacket at 6:17 AM to prove its security. The volumes of cash were staggering; one deposit for a motorcycle for Molefe consisted of 3,486 individual R100 notes, amounting to over R1 million in a single transaction.
The Tshwane rot: Tenders and political fallouts
The commission also exposed Nkosi’s deep entanglement with municipal affairs, specifically within the City of Tshwane. WhatsApp messages revealed a close friendship with CFO Gareth Mnisi, which included trips to shooting ranges while Mnisi oversaw security tenders awarded to companies linked to Nkosi’s own brother.
This web of influence has already claimed high-profile political casualties. ActionSA MMC Kholofelo Morodi was placed on special leave by Mayor Nasiphi Moya after evidence suggested she shared internal tender documents with the sergeant.
In a press statement released on March 19, ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont confirmed a full suspension:
”ActionSA will never adopt the approach of sweeping allegations aside… we will always run towards accountability, not away from it.”
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High-profile hits: AKA, Tibz, and DJ Sumbody
The inquiry took its most somber turn when probing Nkosi’s involvement in celebrity murder cases. Nkosi confirmed a startling personal link in the 2023 assassination of rapper AKA, testifying that Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane was the nephew of “Big Five” member Mr. Mthakathi.
Furthermore, the commission scrutinized a WhatsApp message Nkosi sent to a friend of DJ Sumbody just three days after his death, asking: “Why didn’t you call him to order?” This comes as investigators recently linked DJ Sumbody’s murder to a syndicate using a single firearm for ten different hits.
Nkosi’s claims of memory loss regarding the message were met with a blunt accusation from Commission Chair Mbuyiseli Madlanga:
”Sergeant, I can’t accept that answer. You are lying. Stop playing games.”
Leaks and political links
The explosive evidence didn’t stop there. Nkosi’s phone records contained allegations suggesting the EFF and Julius Malema were linked to recommendations for companies seeking Tshwane security tenders. It was also revealed that Nkosi shared confidential police documents—including an arrest warrant for blogger Musa Khawula—with civilians, instructing them to act as unauthorized informants.
As the Madlanga Commission interim report gains traction, the testimony of Sergeant Nkosi has illuminated a sprawling network of collusion that has left South Africa reeling.
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