MADLANGA COMMISSION: Former Hawks boss exposes factional rifts after chaotic ‘KT’ Molefe arrest

The evidence of former Hawks head Lt-Gen Godfrey Lebeya points to deeper fault lines within South Africa’s law enforcement agencies, where investigations and high-profile raids have become entangled in factional battles, competing interests and allegations of misconduct.

A breakdown in communication between police units nearly led to an explosive confrontation during the arrest of alleged crime boss Katiso “KT” Molefe, former Hawks chief Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya told the Madlanga Commission on Thursday.

Arriving at Molefe’s Sandhurst, Sandton, home on 6 December 2024, Hawks officers walked into a volatile standoff with Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and Gauteng Organised Crime Unit members, who were already raiding the mansion over the murder of businessman Armand Swart.

The incident and differing accounts of what transpired have exposed the fault lines between SAPS units, including the Hawks, Crime Intelligence and the PKTT.

The Madlanga Commission’s revelations have rocked the top ranks at both the Hawks and Crime Intelligence. Gauteng Hawks boss Ebrahim Kadwa and Crime Intelligence executive Feroz Khan now face criminal charges, while KZN Hawks leader Lesetja Senona has resigned under a cloud of serious accusations.

Lebeya told the commission a simple phone call between senior police officers could have prevented the confusion that unfolded at Molefe’s house, but former Crime Intelligence boss and PKTT head Dumisani Khumalo had purposefully withheld information due to fears that other SAPS units were compromised.

Describing the standoff at Molefe’s home, Lebeya said: “A confrontational atmosphere was established where various units had to respond effectively to the events purported to take place. The atmosphere might have led to unintended outcomes, including the possibility of friendly fire.

“If Lieutenant General Khumalo had informed the national head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation [the DPCI, or Hawks] about the operation, or if upon receiving a report about the presence of the members of the Hawks at the scene, he had checked with me, the situation would not have occurred.”

Questioned about whether Molefe prompted the Hawks’ intervention, Lebeya insisted he had no contact with the alleged “Big Five” cartel figure. He told the inquiry that he didn’t even know Molefe and only stepped in after receiving a call from the TikTok influencer Malcolm X , who was at Molefe’s home.

Lebeya said Malcolm X told him that people at the house were claiming to be Hawks officers acting on Lebeya’s instructions.

“I have never instructed the members of the [Hawks] to interrupt a legitimate police operation,” said Lebeya, adding that he treated the call seriously due to the threat of criminals impersonating police.

By December 2024, he said, the DPCI was aware of more than 30 unresolved cases involving people who had allegedly impersonated Hawks members.

“We had in the past arrested persons who pretended to be from the Hawks, some wearing Hawks T-shirts...