Madlanga inquiry hears alleged police plot to acquire high-tech spy devices

In a clear example of the alleged infiltration of the police by criminal elements, Sgt Fannie Nkosi used his official stamp and position to facilitate the potential acquisition of cellphone-surveillance equipment by the late alleged crime kingpin and taxi warlord Jothan Msibi.

Chats downloaded from Msibi’s phone were presented as evidence at the Madlanga commission, which is investigating allegations that corrupt elements have infiltrated the country’s criminal justice system.

The late Msibi was previously identified at the commission as the leader of the “Big Five cartel”.

Nkosi, alleged runner of suspended deputy national commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya , is under arrest and facing other charges of money-laundering and defeating the ends of justice. His role in this deal could see him facing more charges.

Chief evidence leader for the commission Matthew Chaskalson on Tuesday showed retired justice Mbuyisile Madlanga and his co-commissioners advocates Sesi Baloyi and Sandile Khumalo a letter addressed to the Czech Republic’s ministry of industry & trade in February 2023.

The chat detailed arrangements of a possible demonstration of the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catchers, arranged to be made at the SAPS head offices in Pretoria.

A letter to authorise a foreign company, Invasys, to do the demonstration was signed and stamped by Nkosi.

The devices, colloquially known in the intelligence world as “grabbers”, can be used to spy on and download cellphone communications.

Chaskalson said Nkosi stamped the letter for Invasys to create the impression the demonstration of the spying devices would be for authorised users — law enforcement officers.

The Invasys company website states that it is “a research and development company dedicated to empowering governments with advanced security technologies to counter terrorism, insurgency and organised crime”.

Evidence shows Nkosi signed the letter knowing that the demonstration would not be for police but for taxi boss Msibi, who seemingly wanted to sell the technology system to the Eswatini government.

“The Czech Republic was told this is a demonstration to the SAPS,” Chaskalson said, adding Nkosi’s actions amounted to fraud.

According to the chats, Chaskalson said Msibi, murder accused Katiso Molefe and security company boss Steve Motsumi apparently planned to have a business venture that sold the devices.

Chats between Nkosi and Shaun Jacobs, who was the middleman for Invasys, show the talks started in January 2023, and two of its representatives, Ivan Vercueil and Thomas Jensen, visited the country in February to demonstrate the devices.