Police stamp, secret chats and a R1m Spy-Tech deal: Msibi’s alleged grabber plot unpacked at Madlanga

Suspended sergeant Fannie Nkosi has been implicated in the scandal of using his police influence to buy a grabber in favour of the late taxi boss, Jotham “King Mswazi” Msibi.

The evidence allegedly links suspended Sergeant Fannie Nkosi alongside murder accused Katiso “KT” Molefe, late taxi boss Jotham “King Mswazi” Msibi and private security businessman Steve Motsumi in the proposed grabber transaction.

Grabbers can intercept mobile communications and extract data from phones, making them powerful surveillance tools.

On Tuesday, Chief Evidence Leader Matthew Chaskalson told the commission that the group allegedly planned to obtain the equipment from a Czech Republic-based company while representing the transaction as an official police demonstration.

“Msibi, Nkosi, Motsumi and Molefe have a plan to sell grabber technology to eSwatini,” Chaskalson said.

The commission heard that correspondence with the Czech supplier included documents bearing SAPS stamps.

Chaskalson alleged that Nkosi used a police stamp and his force number on a procurement document to help advance the deal.

In January 2023, a contact saved on Nkosi’s phone as “Shaun Jacobs — phone expert” reportedly asked whether the “Swazi deal” remained possible.

Nkosi forwarded the message to Msibi, who replied: “It’s on the table but they have to display. We don’t want to become fools.”

The evidence suggested the planned demonstration was intended to reassure the Czech supplier that the equipment was being acquired for police purposes, despite allegations that it was ultimately destined for eSwatini.

The commission also examined messages involving Msibi and Kyle Phillips, a director of the tobacco company Carnilinx.

The exchanges allegedly concerned repeated thefts and hijackings of cigarette consignments.

Chaskalson said an individual named “Ali”, whom he described as a suspected robber, communicated with Phillips about recovering stolen stock.

In another exchange, Phillips allegedly offered Msibi “red water”, a substance associated with illicit gold processing.