The Madlanga Commission resumes today in Pretoria after another dramatic day of testimony that exposed alleged corruption and contract manipulation within Transnet and its ties to the murder of Vereeniging engineer, Armand Swart.
On Wednesday, Witness B — whose identity remains protected — told the commission that Swart’s killing in April 2024 was a result of a multimillion-rand tender scandal involving Lucky Molefe, the nephew of businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe.
According to the testimony, Lucky allegedly manipulated a Transnet tender that had been awarded to SK Group, a company he was linked to, and then sought help from his uncle to cover it up once the irregularities were discovered.
Witness B testified that SK Group bought metal springs from QTech, Swart’s employer, for R3.90 and sold them to Transnet for R151 each.
When QTech noticed the inflated pricing, a whistleblower reported the issue to Transnet. Inspectors from both Transnet and QTech later found altered purchase orders — a discovery that triggered an internal investigation.
“Lucky was pressured to hand over documents,” Witness B said.
“Knowing that there was manipulation that could cost him his job and everything he worked for, he reached out to his uncle [Katiso Molefe], who then contacted [former police officer] Michael Tau.”
Swart was shot 23 times outside QTech’s offices in what the commission heard was a case of mistaken identity.
“The actual target was the whistleblower who had exposed the tender manipulation,” the witness said.
Swart’s murder, prosecutors believe, was part of a broader pattern of intimidation designed to silence individuals investigating state-linked corruption.
Witness B also told the commission that after Tau’s arrest, investigators were threatened and followed. The witness said senior police officials had attempted to interfere in the case, including Sedibeng district commissioner Brigadier Abbey Nkwashu, who allegedly pleaded with investigators not to oppose Tau’s bail.
During cross-examination, it was revealed that on the day Molefe was arrested, police found Transnet tender documents and fraudulent signatures at his Sandhurst home. Despite this, his nephew Lucky remains on the run.
Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga, who chairs the commission, adjourned proceedings on Wednesday after hearing the testimony, which investigators say provides crucial links between organised criminal networks and elements within law enforcement.
Today’s session is expected to continue with testimony related to the Transnet-linked corruption probe, as the commission seeks to establish the extent of interference in criminal investigations and procurement processes.
Watch the live broadcast of the Madlanga Commission below:
