LIVE | Three SAPS members to testify about Katiso “KT” Molefe's arrest | Madlanga Commission
Three SAPS members will testify before the Madlanga Commission on the arrest of underworld businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe.
Image: Simon Majadibodu/IOL
Three members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) who were involved in the arrest or the take-down operation of underworld kingpin Katiso “KT” Molefe last year will testify before the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday.
The public hearings will resume at 9:30 at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria.
Molefe was arrested on December 6, 2024 at his multimillion-rand Sandhurst home in Johannesburg.
This was in connection with the murder of engineer Armand Swart, who was gunned down at his workplace in Vereeniging in April 17.
The witnesses’ testimonies come days after Witness A told the commission how the Hawks and Gauteng Traffic Police actively disrupted the arrest of Molefe.
He said the hawks almost derailed the mission.
At the same time, a police helicopter was deployed to hover above the property in what he described as an attempt to intimidate or surveil officers involved in the operation.
“It was a police traffic helicopter hovering so low over his house, we had to report it and call for reinforcements,” Witness A said.
The aircraft was later reportedly to be piloted by Chief Provincial Inspector George Raftopoulos, who acknowledged he was acting on a complaint from DPCI claiming “bogus police” were raiding Molefe’s home.
Witness B also shared the same sentiments on the arrest of Molefe.
According to the witness, it was shocking to witness such presence of police who were trying all means to intimidate them.
What shocked the witness even more, was the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer, Johannes Mokgatle, who falsely reported sick from work, only to be found later at Molefe’s house.
Witness B said the officer’s presence at the scene has raised serious questions of interference and internal misconduct within the JMPD.
But it was later discovered that his presence was unauthorised and viewed by law enforcement as deliberate obstruction.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
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