No fear no Favours No Dirty cops (THIRD FORCE)..........
21-JUL-2013 | MZWANDILE KABIZOKWAKHE
SUNDAY World can reveal that robber and crime intelligence officer "Captain KGB" is just the tip of a larger problem in the SAPS.
21-JUL-2013 | MZWANDILE KABIZOKWAKHE
SUNDAY World can reveal that robber and crime intelligence officer "Captain KGB" is just the tip of a larger problem in the SAPS.
Sunday World has uncovered that between 1998 and 2002, late Gauteng deputy commissioner Lieutenant General Afrika Khumalo recruited 237 members of the self-defence units (set up by the ANC to protect communities during the violence in the run-up to the 1994 elections) to the SAPS when he was asked to form a provincial task team.
The team was colloquially referred to as Thathazonke, meaning "Anyone is welcome".
None of the members were vetted for criminal records and none were trained in basic policing.
They continue to hold senior positions in the police despite serious allegations, including murder claims, against them.
In May the police were embarrassed when intelligence officer Morris "Captain KGB" Tshabalala was unmasked as a convicted criminal.
He was arrested in April in connection with a cash-in-transit heist in Sasolburg, Mpumalanga, in February. During the bail application, the prosecutor learnt that Tshabalala had a conviction for robbery dating from 1996. The prosecutor told the court that Tshabalala had lodged an appeal and while out on bail, he disappeared.
He was employed by Khumalo some time between 1998 and 2002.
When Captain KGB joined Thathazonke, his immediate superior was the incumbent head of crime intelligence in Soweto, Colonel Smangaliso Simelane, aka Smanga.
The Thathazonke group that Simelane led operated in and around Soweto and drove flashy cars, including one with an illegal personalised number plate that read "Satan".
Several residents of Mzimhlophe, White City and Meadowlands who Sunday World spoke to knew of Simelane's group. All spoke on condition of anonymity, and only one had a kind word.
He said: "Smanga cleaned up Soweto, but I think he overdid it. His group had a woman who once slapped me for no reason at a funeral. They were untouchable, but I think if you visit prisons, you will hear more stories about Smanga. He was. hated by criminals."
Sunday World found 10 cases opened against the colonel, at various police stations, dating back to a reckless driving charge in Cullinan in 1992. The most recent was filed in Olifantsfontein in June 2010 in connection with handling or supplying a gun while under the influence or to someone under the influence.
Among these are two murder cases, registered at Moroka and Meadowlands police stations in 2001 and 2008, respectively; a case of attempted murder, registered in Jabulani in 1996; and a case of common assault in Naledi in 1997.
In gathering this information, Sunday World spoke to more than 15 policemen and former policemen, including some alleged to have been part of Simelane's Thathazonke group. Officers admitted that they feared members of Thathazonke, because "it was clear they had the protection of Khumalo and [then national commissioner Jackie] Selebi".
Khumalo died in August 2010, but not before he was accused of involvement in a drug-smuggling ring by convicted druglord Glenn Agliotti. Agliotti mentioned Khumalo in his testimony to the Johannesburg High Court during Selebi's corruption trial.
Only those alleged to have been part of Thathazonke did not express fear of Simelane, but none wanted to speak to Sunday World on the phone for fear that someone in the police could be listening and would relay to him what they had said.
A taxi driver, a former member of the Sputnik faction of the Mzimhlophe taxi association, was explicit: "That man will shoot you."
Murder case 1:
SUNDAY World started the investigation of Smangaliso Simelane by looking into the case of the death of George Ngcobo in White City in 2001.
According to two witnesses, Ngcobo, who was 33 at the time, was standing around at an area known as Emadayisi when Simelane allegedly stopped his car, pulled out a rifle and shot him.
The witnesses confessed that they didn't make themselves available to the court because they feared for their lives.
Sunday World was told that the investigating officer ordered Simelane to remain at the Moroka police station while officers went to the hospital to interview the victim.
By the time the officers got to the hospital, Ngcobo had died, so they returned to the station - but Simelane had left.
Then Soweto area commissioner Major-General Nkanyiso Maphanga was asked to help the investigating officer to compel Simelane to hand over his gun for ballistics testing.
It is not known whether Maphanga, who retires at the end of this month, did order Simelane to hand over his gun.
But police officers familiar with what happened say they don't believe Simelane did.
Maphanga denied that he was called to the scene, but conceded that he was part of a disciplinary panel.
"There was a disciplinary hearing for that case. I would have recused myself if I had also attended the scene."
Gauteng police spokesman Colonel Lungelo Dlamini could not find any information about the disciplinary hearing.
The Protea Magistrate's Court acquitted Simelane and records have been destroyed to make space for new cases. The incident was recorded as "Moroka case number 523/7/2001".
Murder case 2:
MEADOWLANDS police station commander Brigadier Michelle Pretorius confirmed that a case of murder was opened against Simelane after a taxi driver died in May 2008.
Taxi drivers were meeting at the Mzimhlophe soccer field when the police sent an observer team to ensure that there was no violence.
It is alleged that when Simelane, then a superintendent, arrived at the scene, he ordered the taxi drivers to disperse, and when they failed to do so, he discharged his gun.
One taxi driver died and a few - it is believed three - were injured.
Gauteng police spokesman Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said: "That (case) was never solved."
Pretorius confirmed to Sunday World that the docket is missing. Sources say it was quashed.
The taxi driver's name is not recorded.
The incident was recorded as "Meadowlands case number 975/5/2008".
How they responded
SIMELANE referred all questions to his superiors.
"I can neither confirm nor deny what you are saying," he said. "If people have a complaint against a police officer, they must report that to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
"I am not authorised to speak to the media. [All I do] is take cases to court."
Sunday World has opted to withhold the names of the three members of Thathazonke we spoke to. Two confirmed they were once part of it; the other distanced himself from it despite his colleagues saying he was one of them.
One of the former members was delighted when he learnt why we were calling him.
"When I saw the stories about KGB I thought: 'Why are these people so mad about this? There's more of them [KGBs].'"
Former commissioner Selebi confirmed that he knew Simelane well, but denied any involvement in Thathazonke.
Selebi said: "Afrika (Khumalo) was head of crime intelligence and he would have formed groups at various stages which I would not have known about."
He added: "It may very well be that I was informed about it, but I can't say I recall."
- mzwandile@sundayworld.co.za or @mzwaik
In May the police were embarrassed when intelligence officer Morris "Captain KGB" Tshabalala was unmasked as a convicted criminal.
He was arrested in April in connection with a cash-in-transit heist in Sasolburg, Mpumalanga, in February. During the bail application, the prosecutor learnt that Tshabalala had a conviction for robbery dating from 1996. The prosecutor told the court that Tshabalala had lodged an appeal and while out on bail, he disappeared.
He was employed by Khumalo some time between 1998 and 2002.
When Captain KGB joined Thathazonke, his immediate superior was the incumbent head of crime intelligence in Soweto, Colonel Smangaliso Simelane, aka Smanga.
The Thathazonke group that Simelane led operated in and around Soweto and drove flashy cars, including one with an illegal personalised number plate that read "Satan".
Several residents of Mzimhlophe, White City and Meadowlands who Sunday World spoke to knew of Simelane's group. All spoke on condition of anonymity, and only one had a kind word.
He said: "Smanga cleaned up Soweto, but I think he overdid it. His group had a woman who once slapped me for no reason at a funeral. They were untouchable, but I think if you visit prisons, you will hear more stories about Smanga. He was. hated by criminals."
Sunday World found 10 cases opened against the colonel, at various police stations, dating back to a reckless driving charge in Cullinan in 1992. The most recent was filed in Olifantsfontein in June 2010 in connection with handling or supplying a gun while under the influence or to someone under the influence.
Among these are two murder cases, registered at Moroka and Meadowlands police stations in 2001 and 2008, respectively; a case of attempted murder, registered in Jabulani in 1996; and a case of common assault in Naledi in 1997.
In gathering this information, Sunday World spoke to more than 15 policemen and former policemen, including some alleged to have been part of Simelane's Thathazonke group. Officers admitted that they feared members of Thathazonke, because "it was clear they had the protection of Khumalo and [then national commissioner Jackie] Selebi".
Khumalo died in August 2010, but not before he was accused of involvement in a drug-smuggling ring by convicted druglord Glenn Agliotti. Agliotti mentioned Khumalo in his testimony to the Johannesburg High Court during Selebi's corruption trial.
Only those alleged to have been part of Thathazonke did not express fear of Simelane, but none wanted to speak to Sunday World on the phone for fear that someone in the police could be listening and would relay to him what they had said.
A taxi driver, a former member of the Sputnik faction of the Mzimhlophe taxi association, was explicit: "That man will shoot you."
Murder case 1:
SUNDAY World started the investigation of Smangaliso Simelane by looking into the case of the death of George Ngcobo in White City in 2001.
According to two witnesses, Ngcobo, who was 33 at the time, was standing around at an area known as Emadayisi when Simelane allegedly stopped his car, pulled out a rifle and shot him.
The witnesses confessed that they didn't make themselves available to the court because they feared for their lives.
Sunday World was told that the investigating officer ordered Simelane to remain at the Moroka police station while officers went to the hospital to interview the victim.
By the time the officers got to the hospital, Ngcobo had died, so they returned to the station - but Simelane had left.
Then Soweto area commissioner Major-General Nkanyiso Maphanga was asked to help the investigating officer to compel Simelane to hand over his gun for ballistics testing.
It is not known whether Maphanga, who retires at the end of this month, did order Simelane to hand over his gun.
But police officers familiar with what happened say they don't believe Simelane did.
Maphanga denied that he was called to the scene, but conceded that he was part of a disciplinary panel.
"There was a disciplinary hearing for that case. I would have recused myself if I had also attended the scene."
Gauteng police spokesman Colonel Lungelo Dlamini could not find any information about the disciplinary hearing.
The Protea Magistrate's Court acquitted Simelane and records have been destroyed to make space for new cases. The incident was recorded as "Moroka case number 523/7/2001".
Murder case 2:
MEADOWLANDS police station commander Brigadier Michelle Pretorius confirmed that a case of murder was opened against Simelane after a taxi driver died in May 2008.
Taxi drivers were meeting at the Mzimhlophe soccer field when the police sent an observer team to ensure that there was no violence.
It is alleged that when Simelane, then a superintendent, arrived at the scene, he ordered the taxi drivers to disperse, and when they failed to do so, he discharged his gun.
One taxi driver died and a few - it is believed three - were injured.
Gauteng police spokesman Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said: "That (case) was never solved."
Pretorius confirmed to Sunday World that the docket is missing. Sources say it was quashed.
The taxi driver's name is not recorded.
The incident was recorded as "Meadowlands case number 975/5/2008".
How they responded
IMELANE referred all questions to his superiors.
"I can neither confirm nor deny what you are saying," he said. "If people have a complaint against a police officer, they must report that to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
"I am not authorised to speak to the media. [All I do] is take cases to court."
Sunday World has opted to withhold the names of the three members of Thathazonke we spoke to. Two confirmed they were once part of it; the other distanced himself from it despite his colleagues saying he was one of them.
One of the former members was delighted when he learnt why we were calling him.
"When I saw the stories about KGB I thought: 'Why are these people so mad about this? There's more of them [KGBs].'"
Former commissioner Selebi confirmed that he knew Simelane well, but denied any involvement in Thathazonke.
Selebi said: "Afrika (Khumalo) was head of crime intelligence and he would have formed groups at various stages which I would not have known about."
He added: "It may very well be that I was informed about it, but I can't say I recall."
- mzwandile@sundayworld.co.za or @mzwaik
SHOOT TO KILL CELE
'KGB gang' was about to bomb police vault
Captain Morris 'KGB' Tshabalala appears in the Sasolburg Magistrate's Court yesterday in connection with the February 16 attack on a cash-in-transit van. Tshabalala has slipped through police nets for more than a decade and become a top spy
Image by: ALON SKUY Four men disguised as artisans and carrying explosives and unlicensed firearms have been arrested, allegedly shortly before they could blow up a Tshwane Metro Police vault.RELATED NEWS
The vault is believed to have contained millions of rands in cash - fines paid to the Tshwane metro.
The men are said to be linked to disgraced former crime intelligence officer Captain Morris "KGB" Tshabalala.
They were arrested on Monday night in Silverton as they tried to evade members of the Pretoria Dog Unit and crime intelligence officers by fleeing through a McDonald's fast-food drive-through restaurant at Silverwaters Crossing Mall.
They are believed to be part of a cash-in-transit heist syndicate allegedly run by Tshabalala.
Tshabalala, imprisoned last month for 10 years for a 1994 armed robbery, is to appear today in the Sasolburg Magistrate's Court on charges relating to a R3-million cash heist in February.
The police are not releasing information about the arrests. They were made as investigators were preparing to arrest several more of Tshabalala's alleged accomplices.
A detective with knowledge of the Silverton arrests said the men were caught with two unlicensed firearms, explosive gel hidden in silicon canisters, and detonators, drills and crowbars.
"Information led us to the suspects in Silverton who were en route to a Tshwane Metro Police office where they were allegedly going to blow up a vault containing millions of rands in cash.
"An informer has provided information that links these men to Tshabalala's alleged syndicate. It appears that this attack had been planned for some time," he said.
The officer said several more of Tshabalala's "associates" across the country were soon to be arrested. "These arrests are part of a larger investigation into Tshabalala and his criminal activities," he said.
The officer said the suspects arrested in Silverton had been charged with the illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives.
Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko said: "Given the nature and sensitivity of the investigation, we cannot provide detailed information."
Tshabalala is being investigated for his alleged involvement in at least seven cash-in-transit heists across the country.
The robberies are said to have netted over R30-million for the syndicate, of which he is believed to a member.
SUNDAY WORLD
What 'KGB' knows
Captain Morris 'KGB' Tshabalala appears in the Sasolburg Magistrate's Court yesterday in connection with the February 16 attack on a cash-in-transit van. Tshabalala has slipped through police nets for more than a decade and become a top spy
Image by: ALON SKUY Embattled spy cop Captain Morris "KGB" Tshabalala could - in a desperate bid to save his own skin after being fired yesterday - expose the involvement of current and former police top brass in alleged widescale corruption.
The heist-accused crime intelligence officer's woes deepened yesterday as a 15-year warrant of arrest for armed robbery was executed, immediately putting him in prison for 10 years.
The scandal around how Tshabalala managed to evade arrest since 1998, how he was employed as a crime intelligence officer despite having a criminal record and how he got top security clearance has left SA Police Service bosses red-faced and spurred them into action.
National police commissioner General Riah Phiyega said yesterday: "This is an extremely serious matter."
The Times exposed Tshabalala's chequered past soon after his arrest three weeks ago for alleged involvement in a R3-million cash-in-transit heist in February.
He is also being investigated in connection with seven other cash-in-transit heists in which more than R30-million was stolen.
The Times has learnt that Phiyega and the head of the Hawks, Lieutenant-General Anwar Dramat, led a high-level meeting in Pretoria yesterday at which the police commissioner apparently ordered that Dramat personally oversee an investigation into Tshabalala.
Police sources close to the investigation said the 39-year-old officer was possibly entering negotiations that would purportedly expose high-ranking officers and a web of alleged corruption.
It is suspected that Tshabalala used his knowledge of their activities and those behind them to stay out of prison.
But Tshabalala's lawyer, Dolph Jonker, yesterday denied any knowledge of plea negotiations, "in this or any other matter".
"There is nothing more I want to tell you about this or any other matter relating to Tshabalala," Jonker said.
Phiyega is said to have demanded at yesterday's meeting to be informed of Tshabalala's new prison number - 213218917.
This, according to sources, is so she can be sure he is finally behind bars. She wants Dramat to investigate who squashed a May 1998 warrant for Tshabalala's arrest and the related serious security breaches at the SAPS criminal record centre. The warrant, executed against a surprised Tshabalala in his prison cell yesterday, relates to a 1994 armed robbery in Pretoria.
He was convicted and sentenced in 1996 to 10 years in prison, but appealed the sentence after serving just two weeks of it.
In 1998, he abandoned his appeal, which prompted the issuing of the warrant.
But Tshabalala never returned to prison and, in fact, joined the police service in 2002. Within six months he was promoted from the rank of constable to captain.
Yesterday, Tshabalala told officers he had never known his appeal had failed and if he had, he would have handed himself over to police.
He is being held in Groenpunt maximum-security prison in Free State awaiting trial in the Sasolburg cash-in-transit heist case.
Tshabalala abandoned his bail application on Wednesday.
But his co-accused, Sergeant Willby Molefe, Sipho Nkosi, Mapotswe Moloi, Lehlogonolo Tiekelele and Sipho Motsamayi, are still pursuing their bail applications and will appear in the Sasolburg Magistrate's Court again next week.
Tshabalala has been put in a single cell because, police say, he is considered a high-risk prisoner who cannot be booked out without notification of the investigators.
A detective, however, said the placing of Tshabalala in a single cell showed the influence he still wielded.
"We believe the level of corruption Tshabalala potentially has knowledge of goes right to the top. It is around past and present senior officers," the detective said.
Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko declined to comment on any aspect of the investigations of Tshabalala.
"He is a sentenced prisoner and is awaiting trial in connection with the Sasolburg heist," he said.
TIMES LIVE
COMMENTS BY SONNY
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