Hawks’ National Priority Offences Unit commander, Dumisani Mbotho, said it was former Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya who called him and provided the address on the day notorious Katiso “KT” Molefe was arrested.
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission on Monday, Mbotho said the instruction was for them to go to the locations because of claims that bogus police members were raiding Molefe’s house.
Molefe was arrested on December 6, 2024, at his multimillion rand residence in Sandhurst, Johannesburg for the murder of engineer Armand Swart.
Mbotho told the commission that Lebeya phoned him asking whether the Hawks were conducting an operation in Sandton.
“He said he received a call claiming there were Hawks members, allegedly sent by him, at a Sandton address,” Mbotho said.
When asked who instructed him to go to the scene, Mbotho was firm: “It was Lebeya.”
Mbotho claimed that he did not know who the house belonged to at the time.
To assess the situation, he dispatched an unmarked vehicle to monitor the area before reporting back that no Hawks operation was taking place there.
Mbotho said he then forwarded the address to Brigadier Lesiba Mokoena, following Lebeya’s instruction.
The inquiry is probing alleged interference by the Hawks during Molefe’s arrest, which was executed by the SAPS.
In a separate development, the commission ordered Mokoena to return to the witness stand after evidence showed he lied under oath about his involvement in a WhatsApp group linked to Molefe’s takedown.
Meanwhile, the public hearings continue this week, with Crime Intel head, Lt-Gen. Dumisani Khumalo returning to the stand following his first appearance.
Khumalo could not finish his testimony after falling ill.
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