The Madlanga Commission continues its hearings today, where ballistic evidence will once again take centre stage.
The inquiry, which has captured national attention, is examining how firearms used in multiple high-profile murders were circulated across Gauteng.
On Tuesday, two senior forensic ballistics experts from the South African Police Service (SAPS) testified before the commission.
They explained how guns recovered from various crime scenes are examined and compared using a system known as the Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS).
This system helps investigators match bullet markings and cartridge casings to the firearms that fired them.
Brigadier Mishak Mkhabela, head of SAPS Ballistics, revealed that an AK-47 assault rifle seized during the investigation into the 2024 killing of engineer Armand Swart was also used in the murders of musicians DJ Sumbody and DJ Vintos.
According to his testimony, the same weapon was connected to at least 10 other crime scenes, while a 9mm pistol from the same cluster of cases was tied to 19 murders and several attempted murders.
Mkhabela presented a detailed chart titled Bramley Cluster High Profile Case (DJ Sumbody/DJ Vintos), which mapped out the links between firearms and the crimes committed with them.
The diagram illustrated five different weapons labelled “Gun One” through “Gun Five,” showing their involvement in robberies, attempted murders, and murders.
The visual map highlighted how “Gun Two,” identified as the AK-47, appeared repeatedly across cases, including the Woodmead shooting that claimed the life of DJ Sumbody and his two bodyguards.
Advocate Matthew Chaskalson, one of the evidence leaders, said the investigation reveals a “network of violence” tied to a handful of illegal weapons circulating between criminal groups.
“This is not just about one murder; it’s about a web of violence that has claimed dozens of lives,” Chaskalson said during Tuesday’s hearing.
The commission also reviewed errors found in the initial ballistic report compiled by a Pretoria-based officer, Captain Makgotloe. Mkhabela acknowledged that the report omitted key evidence, such as cartridge details from the AK-47, due to what he described as a “typing error” and a backlog of over 400 cases per month in the IBIS database.
This led to the report being reassigned to KwaZulu-Natal for correction and verification in September 2024.
Public Interest SA chairperson Tebogo Khaas urged viewers and the media to approach the proceedings responsibly.
“As much as we are looking for justice, we must be nuanced and not quick to accuse people for things they may or may not have done while fighting for justice,” Khaas said.
The Madlanga Commission will hear additional testimony today from ballistic experts, who are expected to clarify how firearm tracing methods will be strengthened to prevent similar lapses in future investigations. Proceedings are scheduled to begin at 10:00 SAST and will be broadcast live.
Watch the live stream of the Madlanga Commission below:
