Former head of South Africa's Hawks police force, Godfrey Lebeya, testified before the Madlanga Commission that he had no knowledge of the so-called Big Five cartel, a criminal network linked to senior police officers. Despite sending a contingent of Hawks officers to interfere in the arrest of Katiso 'KT' Molefe, one of the cartel's alleged leaders, Lebeya claimed he had never heard of the group or its members prior to the commission hearings. He expressed doubts about whether the cartel was officially registered as an organized crime entity. Evidence presented to the commission indicated that 'King Nyambose' Mthethwa allegedly reached out to Lebeya during a police raid on Molefe's home, which was carried out by Gauteng Counter-intelligence and the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). The raid reportedly contributed to the PKTT's dissolution and the removal of 121 case dockets by then-deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, who was accused of accepting payments from cartel member 'King Mswazi' Msibi. Lebeya and other officials have been implicated in the theft of a significant amount of cocaine from a Hawks facility.
Retired Hawks commander Godfrey Lebeya faced intense scrutiny during the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday over discrepancies in accounts regarding the storage and subsequent theft of 541kg of cocaine valued at approximately R200 million. The drugs were seized from a shipping container at Durban port in June 2021 and later moved to the Hawks' Port Shepstone facility. Lebeya contradicted former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks chief Lesetja Senona, who had previously testified that he informed Lebeya about the decision to store the drugs at the Port Shepstone location. Lebeya claimed he was not aware of the storage arrangement until after the drugs had already been placed in the facility. This contradiction came under direct examination by evidence leader Advocate Lee Segeels-Ncube, who pointed out the inconsistency between the two testimonies. Lebeya insisted he could not recall being informed by Senona about the storage location of the drugs. He stated that he did not remember being told where the drugs were kept and maintained that he did not believe Senona was lying, though he admitted he could not confirm whether Senona had shared the information. Lebeya emphasized that the responsibility for storing seized items belonged to the operational units rather than himself, as the national head of the Hawks. He mentioned that previous drug consignments had been stored at the Port Shepstone facility, implying that the practice was not uncommon. The Port Shepstone facility has been under scrutiny due to multiple security lapses, including malfunctioning surveillance cameras, inadequate alarm systems, and a lack of 24-hour security personnel. These deficiencies likely contributed to the theft of the drugs, which occurred shortly after their arrival at the facility. Evidence presented to the commission suggested that the theft might have involved individuals with insider knowledge and access to the storage site. Notably, Senona was never subjected to a polygraph test after the drugs disappeared, raising questions about potential internal complicity. Lebeya acknowledged the security issues at the facility and explained that he authorized two separate investigations into the theft, involving the provincial Hawks commissioner and the head of the serious organized crime unit. He denied having prior knowledge that Senona possessed the keys to the secure storage area. Instead, he relied on a report compiled by deputy Hawks head Tebello Mosikidi, which detailed the circumstances of the burglary. According to the report, other safes containing firearms remained untouched, indicating that the thieves specifically targeted the drug consignment. Segeels-Ncube pressed Lebeya on why he assigned Senona to investigate the theft, given that Senona supposedly had access to the storage area. She also questioned why Lebeya allowed Senona to request polygraph tests for other staff members but not for himself. Lebeya defended his decision, stating that as the supervisor, Senona was responsible for overseeing the disciplinary actions of his subordinates. In a related development, KZN Hawks officer Deenadayalan Govender was ordered to provide testimony in an open hearing on Monday, August 31, following a ruling by the Madlanga Commission. Govender had initially sought to have certain parts of his testimony heard privately, but the court granted permission for some sections to remain confidential. Specifically, Govender will not be required to reveal the identities of witnesses connected to the investigation into the Port Shepstone cocaine theft or disclose sensitive police strategies and investigative methods. However, evidence concerning a counterintelligence operation involving drug gangs in the Durban area, previously given in private by Witness P, will still be heard in camera on the designated date.
Dr Godfrey Lebeya, a retired South African Police Service (SAPS) Hawks commander, testified before the Madlanga Commission that he had no knowledge of the alleged 'Big Five Cartel' or its members, including the late taxi magnate Jotham 'King Mswazi' Msibi. Despite photographic evidence linking several high-profile figures to the cartel, Lebeya claimed awareness of the group was limited. His testimony contrasts with previous claims by senior police officials like Major-General Lesetja Senona and General Dumisane Khumalo, who labeled some cartel associates as dangerous. Lebeya also denied interfering with a 2024 operation targeting Katiso 'KT' Molefe, stating he had deployed officers based on instructions from a civilian named Malcom X. The conflicting accounts highlight ongoing scrutiny over the handling of organized crime investigations within SAPS.
Bias read (Center): While the article discusses a politically sensitive issue involving organized crime and law enforcement accountability, it presents both Lebeya's denial and counterpoints from other officials without overtly favoring one side. The framing remains balanced, focusing on the conflict between testimonys
Why factuality (85): This article continues the discussion of Lebeya's testimony regarding the Big Five Cartel, aligning with prior reports. It accurately reflects Lebeya's statements and the context of the commission's inquiry. There is no significant deviation from the established narrative.
Why objectivity (80): While the article is mostly neutral, it uses phrasing such as 'alleged' and 'suspected' which could imply a certain level of skepticism, potentially influencing reader perception. This subtle framing affects the overall objectivity score.
An investigative report highlights South Africa's emergence as a key player in global drug-trafficking networks, driven not just by its role as a transit hub but also by systemic corruption within law enforcement and judicial systems. Experts and testimonies from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry reveal widespread collusion between senior police officials and drug syndicates, undermining efforts to combat organized crime. Two major cocaine seizures in 2021, worth over R500 million, were linked to internal thefts from police facilities, leading to resignations and ongoing investigations. Analysts note South Africa's dual significance as both a transit corridor for Latin American cocaine and a hub for industrial methamphetamine production, supported by entrenched criminal networks embedded within state institutions.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue through the lens of systemic corruption within state institutions, emphasizing the complicity of law enforcement and judicial officials in facilitating drug trafficking. It highlights the scale of the problem through expert testimony and specific cases of institutional背叛
Why factuality (85): The article presents specific details about South Africa's position in global organized crime rankings, citing Dr. Mark Shaw and the GI-TOC index. It references the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and provides examples like the stolen cocaine shipments and the resignation of Major-General Leseja Seno
Why objectivity (75): The article uses terms like 'allegedly' and 'supposedly,' indicating awareness of potential bias. However, it frames the situation as a systemic issue without clearly attributing blame to any particular group. The tone remains largely neutral, though the emphasis on corruption suggests an implicit c
Mail & GuardianIndependentCenterFactual 75Objective 809/3/2026
Former head of South Africa's Hawks police force, Godfrey Lebeya, testified before the Madlanga Commission that he had no knowledge of the so-called Big Five cartel, a criminal network linked to senior police officers. Despite sending a contingent of Hawks officers to interfere in the arrest of Katiso 'KT' Molefe, one of the cartel's alleged leaders, Lebeya claimed he had never heard of the group or its members prior to the commission hearings. He expressed doubts about whether the cartel was officially registered as an organized crime entity. Evidence presented to the commission indicated that 'King Nyambose' Mthethwa allegedly reached out to Lebeya during a police raid on Molefe's home, which was carried out by Gauteng Counter-intelligence and the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). The raid reportedly contributed to the PKTT's dissolution and the removal of 121 case dockets by then-deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, who was accused of accepting payments from cartel member 'King Mswazi' Msibi. Lebeya and other officials have been implicated in the theft of a significant amount of cocaine from a Hawks facility.
Bias read (Center): The article presents testimony from a former police official regarding allegations of corruption and collusion within law enforcement, but does not overtly favor or criticize any particular political faction. It reports on the testimonies and evidence presented to the commission without taking a明显立场
Why factuality (75): The article reports on testimony given to the Madlanga Commission regarding former Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya's denial of knowledge about the Big Five cartel. It accurately reflects the content of the testimony but does not reference the Shongwe Commission or provide details about the taxi violence i
Why objectivity (80): The article presents the testimony in a neutral manner, quoting Lebeya directly and presenting his statements without apparent bias. The language remains objective, focusing on what Lebeya said rather than expressing judgment or opinion on the matter.
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