Madlanga Commission | What did Sgt Nkosi actually do at SAPS?
The Madlanga Commission has heard how the Sergeant Fannie Nkosi worked with alleged cartel members.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / IOL Graphics
Madlanga Commission has heard testimony that Sergeant Fannie Nkosi spent his official working hours offering motorbike riding, shooting and boating training, while his actual duties as a police officer remain unclear.
Testifying before the commission last week, Nkosi failed to give a clear account of what he was employed to do within the South African Police Service (SAPS), raising serious questions about accountability and oversight.
Instead, Nkosi described a pattern of activities unrelated to core policing, effectively confirming that he was running side operations during state-paid time.
The revelation stunned proceedings, as commissioners struggled to establish what role Nkosi actually fulfilled as a serving officer — if any.
But he admitted that he worked with alleged criminals, including Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and Katiso “KT” Molefe.
He worked with Pretoria taxi boss Jothan “Mswazi” Msibi, who died in 2024, had been named as its leader, Businessman Steve Motsumi and Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni, a taxi boss that Matlala allegedly attempted to murder.
Evidence showed that he was sharing confidential SAPS information with people who were not officers.
He also admitted that in some cases he was operated under the leadership of the suspended deputy commissioner, Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya.
Under further questioning, Nkosi admitted to operating in what he called “grey areas” within SAPS, where rules are often bent to achieve results.
He also confirmed knowledge of missing and manipulated case dockets, and conceded that fear prevents officers from reporting wrongdoing.
But it was his inability to define his job — contrasted with his active involvement in external training activities — that has emerged as one of the most damning aspects of his testimony.
The commission further heard evidence linking Nkosi to alleged tender interference in the City of Tshwane.
He testified about his involvement with a municipal CFO Gareth Minsk and suspended Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department deputy chief Umshai Dhlamini.
Evidence revealed that Nkosi and Minsi sought to secure a security tender in the so-called “Matthew Phosa municipality” in Mpumalanga — an entity that does not exist.
WhatsApp messages presented to the commission showed Nkosi in frequent contact with an associate, Mnisi, discussing a lucrative City of Tshwane security contract.
The exchanges pointed to sustained efforts to position his brother’s company, Ngaphesheya, for success — despite failing to meet at least 12 mandatory bid requirements.
Nkosi admitted lobbying on his brother’s behalf.
“I asked him to check what the problem is,” he said.
Commission chair Mbuyiseli Madlanga openly challenged his version of events, accusing him of being dishonest as gaps in his story widened.
“You are lying. That’s the problem. The problem is that you are lying to us. You are lying to us, Sergeant Nkosi.”
Public Interest SA chairperson Tebogo Khaas told IOL that Nkosi’s testimony pointed to a deeper systemic failure.
Khaas described Nkosi as effectively “moonlighting” — running private interests while employed by SAPS.
He said Nkosi appeared to be operating through his younger brother’s security company while also conducting training activities that fall outside normal police duties.
“The fact that he got away with it tells us the kind of rot within SAPS, where individuals can run businesses while still on the payroll of the police without dedicating their time to the force.”
Khaas warned that the issue goes beyond one individual, pointing to a pattern of officers allegedly running businesses and accumulating wealth inconsistent with their salaries.
“It raises serious concerns about employees enabling criminal networks while accessing SAPS systems — including sensitive information on cases and evidence. That on its own is a serious offence.”
The testimony has sharpened concerns that some officers within SAPS may be drawing salaries while operating outside the bounds of their official responsibilities — or abandoning them entirely.
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