By: Saneliso Mlambo
An international espionage plot has been laid bare at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, exposing how a rogue South African police officer and a private syndicate allegedly smuggled military grade European surveillance technology to sell to the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Following a sudden postponement by witness Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, Chief Evidence Leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson spent Tuesday examining highly sensitive, leaked WhatsApp chats recovered from the phone of the late criminal intermediary, Jonathan “Mswazi” Msibi.
The communications reveal that in February 2023, SAPS Sergeant Fani Nkosi utilized his official position to sign and apply a fraudulent South African Police Service stamp to an international clearance document. This forged paperwork led the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Trade and Industry to believe that highly restricted “Invisus” mobile phone grabbers were being imported for legitimate South African law enforcement purposes.
The hardware was designed to intercept cellular communications from ground, maritime and airborne platforms. Chaskalson said the project appeared to involve the late Pretoria taxi boss Jothan “Mswazi” Msibi, Katiso Molefe and Stephen Motsumi at different stages. Msibi demanded a physical demonstration in Pretoria before the transaction proceeded, saying they did not want to “become fools”.
The encrypted data logs show that immediately following a secret product demonstration, Sergeant Nkosi messaged the technology suppliers to confirm that the team was traveling across the border to Eswatini.
The transaction progressed into March 2023, with the syndicate working to establish a private front company to mask the contract and protect a powerful local patron referred to as “Ubaba,” or the old man. The communications culminated in a message stating that the Eswatini monarch, King Mswati III, was scheduled to hold a final meeting with the patron to formalize the illicit acquisition.
The commission is currently reviewing the remaining communication strings to trace the full extent of the network.