Madlanga Commission | Witness F links DD Mabuza’s alleged relative to firearms deal

February 3, 2026 300

WhatsApp messages, screenshots and voice notes presented to the Madlanga Commission have raised serious questions about the conduct of a police officer and possible interference in a murder investigation, alleged firearms dealings, and links to an underworld figure.

At the centre of the evidence are communications involving Witness F, alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, suspended deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, and an alleged relative of the late Deputy President David ‘DD’ Mabuza.

Firearms sale allegations under scrutiny

The commission examined WhatsApp messages between Witness F and businessman Siphiwe Mabuza, who allegedly approached the police officer offering to sell 750 firearms.

Witness F testified off camera about his interactions with the alleged unregistered gun dealer.

WhatsApp chats extracted from Witness F’s phone revealed the conversation with a contact saved as the late Deputy President David Mabuza.

However, Witness F told the Madlanga Commission that he was not communicating with the late deputy president, but with Mabuza’s alleged nephew, Siphiwe Mabuza.

When asked why the contact was saved under the deputy president’s name, Witness F explained that Siphiwe was obsessed with his uncle and frequently spoke about him, prompting him to store the number in that manner.

Meanwhile Commission chairperson, Sesi Baloyi, questioned why Mabuza appeared confident enough to approach a police officer about selling firearms, without Witness F raising concerns over legality.

Witness F said he assumed Mabuza was venturing into a new business and did not verify the origin of the firearms.

Witness F further testified that illegal firearms typically have a street value of about R2,500 each, but denied that the weapons he was approached about were illegal.

He claimed that because Mabuza knew he was a police officer, he would not have attempted to sell him illegal firearms.

The commission also heard that Witness F had expressed interest in testing some of the firearms, allegedly suggesting that he wanted them for personal use.

Meanwhile, a screenshot allegedly sent by Witness F to Matlala was presented to the commission, relating to a case handled at the Mamelodi Police Station. Witness F testified under oath that Matlala had previously enquired about a domestic abuse case opened by one of his employees and wanted it dealt with urgently, claiming officers handling the matter were “dragging their feet”.

He told the commission the screenshot was meant to show that the case had since been reassigned to new officers who would handle it more efficiently.

However, the commission’s evidence leader, Matthew Chaskalson, accused Witness F of misleading the inquiry, saying evidence showed the matter was in fact the murder of Kabelo Richard Mathe in Mamelodi’s Sector 1, where at least 50 cartridges were found at the crime scene.

Witness F distanced himself from the murder case, insisting he had no knowledge of it.

Additional WhatsApp exchanges between Sibiya, Witness F, and Matlala also featured prominently during proceedings.

Among the messages is a voice note from an unidentified man sent to Matlala, requesting a pin-drop location for the delivery of “impalas”.

The commission heard that the voice note was forwarded by Matlala to Witness F, who then relayed it to Sibiya — a sequence that appears to support earlier testimony that Matlala purchased 20 impalas for the suspended police general.

When questioned about why Matlala would arrange for wildlife to be delivered to Sibiya, Witness F invoked his right to remain silent.

Witness F later claimed that Matlala may have sent the voice note to him because Sibiya’s phone was switched off at the time, prompting him to act as an intermediary.

Postponement bid dismissed

Earlier in the day, Witness F’s urgent application to postpone his testimony was dismissed.

Commission chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga warned that refusing to answer questions could expose the witness to criminal charges under the commission’s enabling legislation.