Madlanga Commission hears of political pressure to arrest blogger Musa Khawula

Witness F, a member of the Gauteng Organised Crime Unit, told the commission that Major General Richard Shibiri, the head of organised crime, allegedly contacted Khawula and asked him to stop publishing content about Matlala. 

Screenshots of this communication were later shared with Witness F and presented before the commission.

A WhatsApp exchange shown to the commission also included a warrant of arrest for Khawula, which Witness F was expected to execute. 

The warrant related to a charge of crimen injuria.

Witness F said his immediate superior, suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, later informed him that he was under pressure to ensure Khawula’s arrest.

 This followed Khawula’s social media posts not only about Matlala, but also about ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula.

The commission heard that the complainants listed on the warrant were Mbalula and businessman Ze Nxumalo.

"He mentioned to me that he is getting pressure from a high office,” Witness F told the commission. “High office is the office of the deputy minister (of police).”

When pressed by evidence leader advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC to clarify which deputy minister was allegedly exerting the pressure, the witness responded: “Cassel Mathale.”

In his testimony, Witness F confirmed that General Sibiya instructed him to forward the warrant of arrest to Matlala. 

He said this was because Matlala owned a private security company and allegedly knew Khawula’s movements.

"I was told to forward this to him because he usually sees Mr Khawula,” the witness said, adding that he did not initially see a problem with sharing the document.

However, Chaskalson challenged this explanation, pointing out that the warrant and other documents shared with Matlala were official police records unrelated to Matlala’s own cases.

"In all three instances, these are police documents,” Chaskalson said. “They have nothing to do with the people you’ve shared them with.”

Witness F rejected the suggestion that the documents were improperly shared, maintaining that Matlala was, at the time, a “legit security company owner” and that SAPS often worked with private security firms.

The commission also heard details of the events leading to the crimen injuria charge. 

In October 2024, Khawula made defamatory claims about Ze Nxumalo, alleging that Nxumalo had cheated on his wife, Dr Tamaryn Green-Nxumalo, who was pregnant at the time. 

Nxumalo subsequently sent Khawula a letter demanding a retraction, failing which criminal charges would follow.

In July 2024, Khawula was sentenced to 90 days’ imprisonment for contempt of court after refusing to comply with a defamation order obtained by Mbalula’s wife, Nozuko Mbalula. 

The order barred Khawula from publishing corruption allegations about her on the social media platform X.

Chaskalson further questioned why significant resources were mobilised to arrest Khawula, including the involvement of specialised police units and private security, for what appeared to be a relatively minor offence.

"What risk or danger did Mr Khawula pose?” Chaskalson asked. “Why do you need all these people to effect an arrest?”

Witness F stated that he initially informed his superiors that he lacked sufficient manpower, which may have led to the deployment of additional teams.

He denied that the intention behind sharing the warrant was to intimidate Khawula on Matlala’s behalf.

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