FORMER CRIME INTELLIGENCE BOSS GENERAL DUMISANI KHUMALO ALLEGED THAT A POWERFUL CARTEL KNOWN AS THE “BIG FIVE” HAS INFILTRATED SOUTH AFRICA’S POLICE SERVICE, POLITICAL NETWORKS AND BUSINESS CIRCLES.

BY: KAMOGELO MAMABOLO.

Khumalo, who himself faces charges of irregular appointments at Crime Intelligence, took the stand insisting his arrest was part of a campaign to silence him. He stressed that while some evidence must be presented behind closed doors to protect operatives and investigations, what he could reveal in public painted a picture of deep-rooted criminal capture inside the state.

PKTT Disbandment Questioned

Central to Khumalo’s testimony was the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) on 31 December 2024 by then Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. At the time, Khumalo said, the task team was managing 612 active dockets, contradicting claims that its work had been completed.

He emphasised that the PKTT had successfully tackled high-profile cases, including the assassination of ANC councillor Sindiso Magaqa and political killings tied to the University of Fort Hare, and had brought contract killing numbers down since its inception in 2018.

Khumalo insisted that forming and resourcing such teams was the police commissioner’s prerogative, not the ministers. Any direct intervention by Mchunu, he argued, was irregular.

The “Big Five” Cartel

Khumalo described the “Big Five” as a Gauteng-based cartel with networks in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. Its main commodity, he testified, is international and domestic drug trafficking, supplemented by contract killings, cash-in-transit heists and ATM bombings whenever finances run dry.

“The cartel recruits officials from within the criminal justice system,” Khumalo said, adding that private security firms often serve as a gateway to firearms and intelligence. The group, he claimed, blends illicit activities with legitimate business while cultivating allies among senior politicians and police to obstruct investigations.

WhatsApp Evidence

The commission was shown WhatsApp messages retrieved from the phone of alleged cartel figure Vusi “Cat” Matlala, arrested in May 2025. According to Khumalo, the chats revealed direct lines of communication between Matlala and:

· Businessman Brown Mogotsi, who allegedly leaked classified SAPS documents while receiving payments tied to ANC events linked to Mchunu’s supporters.

· Major-General Lesetja Senona, head of the KZN Hawks, and his son.

· Acting Ekurhuleni police head Julius Mkhwanazi.

· North West businessman Suleiman Carrim and academic Calvin Rafadi, both allegedly paid for access to sensitive information.

Khumalo argued that Mogotsi, believing the PKTT was targeting Matlala, actively pushed for the team’s disbandment and tried to have him disciplined.

“These WhatsApp chats illustrate, at the very least, that organised crime has managed to infiltrate the SAPS and EMPD at the very highest level,” Khumalo said.

Political Fallout

While Khumalo testified, the Presidency announced an inquiry into Gauteng NPA head Andrew Chauke’s fitness to hold office. Though officials denied any link, the timing raised questions about whether President Cyril Ramaphosa acted under pressure following earlier allegations of cartel protection within state institutions.

Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga reminded the commission that implicated individuals will be given the chance to respond once formal notices are issued.

For now, Khumalo’s explosive claims have placed the spotlight firmly on the blurred lines between policing, politics and organized crime, and on the commission’s task of untangling how deep those connections run.

The hearings are set to continue tomorrow.