‘The country was gone’: Madlanga hears how SA was nearly lost to criminal networks

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Opens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowEnter fullscreen mode displaying this image.ExpandDr Ntandazo Sifolo, acting co-ordinator at Nicoc, during the Madlanga commission of inquiry hearings into criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system. Picture: Thulani Mbele/Sowetan Story audio is generated using AI

An official from the National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee (Nicoc) says South Africa could have been lost to criminal networks had intelligence structures not taken control of Gauteng’s counter-intelligence operations in February 2025.

Dr Ntandazo Sifolo, acting co-ordinator at Nicoc, revealed this during his testimony at the Madlanga commission on Thursday. He outlined how Nicoc identifies, assesses and reports threats posed by organised crime syndicates seeking to infiltrate state institutions.

At the end of his testimony, evidence leader Adv Matthew Chaskalson asked Sifolo what he believed would have happened had Nicoc not taken over the Gauteng counter-intelligence team’s investigation into the alleged criminal cartel known as the Big Five.

“The country was gone and, in fact, the head of crime intelligence (Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo) had surrendered. On that particular day, it was the day he was supposed to hand over the project, which had all the layers that, if we don’t do anything, the country was gone,” said Sifolo.

Information revealed at the commission has alleged that the cartel is implicated in drug trafficking, contract killings, cash-in-transit heists, extortion and tender fraud.

The commission has previously heard how Gauteng counter-intelligence, with assistance from the political killings task team (PKTT), raided the homes of alleged cartel members Katiso Molefe and Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.

The alleged cartels are believed to have subsequently influenced suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu to disband the PKTT because they believed the task team was behind the raids on their homes.

Sifolo also told the commission that KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s explosive media briefing on July 6 2025, in which he exposed alleged criminal infiltration of the criminal justice system, was not a chance occurrence.

It was out of the realisation that we cannot win the public opinion [because of negative leaked reports] and the more we tried to work, it’s when we were told that we are corrupt

He said Mkhwanazi’s decision to go public followed growing frustration within intelligence structures over negative reports being leaked and allegations of corruption levelled against them.

“It was out of the realisation that we cannot win the public opinion [because of negative leaked reports] and the more we tried to work, it’s when we were told that we are corrupt.

“So we decided that let’s get South Africans on our side,” Sifolo said.

He also said President Cyril Ramaphosa had been briefed about criminal networks and their infiltration of state institutions six days before Mkhwanazi’s explosive media briefing.

Sifolo told the commission that, apart from the national intelligence estimate reports, intelligence structures had prepared reports on organised criminal networks and the infiltration of the criminal justice system. These had formed the basis of a verbal briefing to Ramaphosa on June 30 2025.

He said minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni approved the verbal briefings to Ramaphosa after recusing herself from matters involving intelligence reports that could implicate her cabinet colleagues or their portfolios.

This threat became more pronounced during the local government elections in 2021, when murder and intimidation in the name of politics threatened to become a norm

According to Sifolo, a major concern for the national intelligence structures had been the growing convergence of politics and the criminal underworld, resulting in heightened insecurity in the country.

“This threat became more pronounced during the local government elections in 2021, when murder and intimidation in the name of politics threatened to become a norm,” he said.

“It remains the duty of national intelligence structures to assure conditions of safety and security to allow a thriving economy and stable environment.”

He said intelligence structures had consequently urged crime intelligence to prioritise investigations aimed at neutralising politically motivated killings and the murder of law enforcement officials.

Sifolo also referred to a report prepared by the National Security Council ahead of the 2024 elections, which highlighted the growing links between political leaders and underworld figures who had created a complex, Mafia-like operation within the state.

“This has seen the normalisation of criminal extortion at economic sites, which spread to the transport sector. Law enforcement has struggled to address this growing phenomenon, largely due to infiltration and contamination of law enforcement services,” he said.

The report recommended strengthening investigative capacity to tackle serious organised and commercial crimes, as well as adopting a dedicated approach to investigating embezzlement in municipalities, state-owned companies and other state entities.

It also called for investigations and prosecutions arising from state capture findings to be expedited, alongside a stronger focus on organised crime, corruption, violence and infrastructure-related crimes, including economic subversion.

Sifolo is expected to give the rest of his evidence in camera.

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