Day one of testimony by the head of Crime Intelligence in the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Dumisani Khumalo, revealed disturbing claims. These included allegations that criminal cartels have infiltrated the SAPS, the fabrication of evidence against Lt Gen Khumalo to remove him from office and the deliberate name-dropping of senior officials to weaken criminal cases.
Lt Gen Khumalo appeared yesterday before the Ad Hoc Committee established to investigate allegations made by the SAPS KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Throughout the day, Lt Gen Khumalo detailed these central allegations to the committee. His appearance in this phase of oral evidence enabled the committee to assess the credibility and impact of the wide-ranging allegations presented to Parliament.
The committee heard that Lt Gen Khumalo unambiguously supported the continued operation of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). This countered recent claims that the PKTT's existence was unnecessary and constituted an unwarranted expense. Lt Gen Khumalo was the project head of the PKTT. He clarified the legal and procedural basis for establishing such task teams, emphasising that only the National Commissioner has the authority to create or dissolve them.
Lt Gen Khumalo said that the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) had specifically resolved that the PKTT should remain operational. He indicated that the last IMC meeting he was aware of took place in September 2023, during which it was resolved that the task team could not be dissolved and must continue its work.
The committee also heard that operational strain within Crime Intelligence intensified following directives issued by Mr Senzo Mchunu, who was the Minister of Police at the time, on 31 December. These directives froze the filling of senior crime intelligence posts and ordered the disbandment of the PKTT. According to Lt Gen Khumalo, these decisions severely constrained capacity, increased reliance on overtime and weakened intelligence-led policing.
He further highlighted that criminal syndicates and cartels are pervasive within the SAPS. These cartels allegedly survive through close relationships with politicians, law-enforcement officials and business leaders who leak sensitive information to derail investigations. He illustrated this by describing how routine WhatsApp greetings exchanged with senior colleagues later appeared as screenshots on the phones of criminal suspects, allegedly used for “name-dropping” to suggest inside influence and undermine cases.
Lt Gen Khumalo also testified that dual citizenship held by some individuals involved in these cartels makes it easier for them to evade detection and continue their operations. He alleged that Mr Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, a central figure in the matter, lied under oath about his dual citizenship and that he, in fact, holds citizenship in Eswatini. The Lieutenant General further assured the committee that another individual whose name has repeatedly surfaced during the hearings, Mr Paul O’Sullivan, is regarded as a “person of interest” under investigation by SAPS’ Crime Intelligence unit.
The committee heard that Lt Gen Khumalo had been informed that Mr Matlala had fabricated allegations of the theft of a Rolex watch and a MacBook. These claims allegedly arose from a raid on Mr Matlala’s residence, at the instruction of Lt Gen Sibiya, with the intention of arresting Lt Gen Khumalo.
Lt Gen Khumalo concluded his main submissions with the evidence leaders early yesterday evening, after which proceedings shifted to questions and engagement by committee members.
Proceedings continue today as the committee examines further testimony.
Rajaa Azzakani
16 January 2026
Arrange a tour