Madlanga Commission reveals how implicated figures used security apparatus to wield immense power

Daily Maverick · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · Aug 24, 2026 · 1498 words · By Thando Nzimande

Criminality in Private Security State Capture Institutional Corruption

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What to know about Criminality in Private Security

The Madlanga Commission has pulled back the curtain on a South Africa where the instruments of state power have been repurposed to serve private criminal interests, creating a shadow state that effectively houses multiple private militias boasting more guns…

Claims checked 16

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

The prevalence of security company ownership among those implicated in the commission’s hearings is no accident.

Common ground

It is a direct and inevitable consequence of a system where public funds are looted to build parallel power structures, where the badge and the gun are commodities to be bought and sold and where the private security industry has become the vehicle through…

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Causal Oversimplification, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Criminality in Private Security story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Carnilinx, a controversial tobacco company, used Msibi to retrieve stolen stock and firearms?
How does this story connect Criminality in Private Security with State Capture over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-08-24-madlanga-commission-revea…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 95% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Causal Oversimplification 70% confidence

Assuming a single cause for a complex issue.

Why it matters: Recognizing causal oversimplification helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 80% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 16 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 6

check_circle Corroborated 6

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

info Single Source 1

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Claim 1: “Carnilinx, a controversial tobacco company, used Msibi to retrieve stolen stock and firearms”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding Carnilinx or its use of Jothan Msibi to retrieve stolen stock and firearms.

verified

Claim 2: “The murder of private security officer Marius van der Merwe, who was gunned down outside his home in December 2025 just three weeks after testifying anonymously before the commission”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia directly confirms that Marius van der Merwe (Witness D) was a security company owner who died on 5 December 2025 after testifying at the Madlanga Commission.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Wiandre Pretorius (c. 1984 – 7 February 2026) was a South African private security operator, police reservist and alleged police informant who became publicly known after being implicated in investiga…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiandre_Pretorius

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Marius van der Merwe (1984 – 5 December 2025), also known by the alias "Vlam" and the codename "Witness D" during his testimony at the Madlanga Commission, was a South African private security company…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marius_van_der_Merwe

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web search NEUTRAL — The California Public College Bond Measure is not on the ballot in California as an legislatively referred bond act on November 3, 2026. The measure would have authorized bond sales to fund safety mea…
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Public_College_Bond_Measu…

+ 2 more evidence sources

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Claim 3: “Msibi’s alleged involvement in rigging a tender for a project management unit at the municipality, where he personally nominated a company called Camp Rock for the bid”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 4: “Gubis85 Solutions... receiving R59.13-million for ad hoc services between July 2024 and June 2025 on top of its standard monthly security services payment of R3.5-million”

SINGLE SOURCE

One web search result mentions Gubis85 Solutions was paid R60 million for ad hoc services between July 2024 and June 2025, which is very close to the claimed R59.13 million. However, the specific monthly payment of R3.5 million is not explicitly corroborated by the provided evidence. Other results for this claim were irrelevant adult forum links.

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web search NEUTRAL — Big Changes Are Coming to the Forum! We’ve got some exciting news to share — the forum is moving to a brand-new home! Very soon, forum.xnxx.com will move to our new domain: forum.pornchat.com Along wi…
https://forum.xnxx.com/forums/sexuality.7/

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Claim 5: “an alleged plot involving Msibi, suspended Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, Molefe and private security businessman Steve Motsumi to acquire sophisticated phone-interception technology known as “grabbers” from a Czech Republic-based company for resale in Eswatini”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 6: “A Tshwane Metro chief later testified that she halted an irregular private security tender costing R800-million that had been approved by a deputy chief”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources report that the Tshwane metro chief halted an irregular security tender costing R800 million.

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web search NEUTRAL — He accused Ekhurhuleni metro deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi of approving the Cat VIP protection vehicles to be fitted with blue-light reserves for law enforcement. “It is not, it would seem, systems of…
https://mg.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-04-07-tshwane-metro-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Tshwane Metro Police Department chief Yolande Faro expresses shock over financial irregularities and criminal activities within the TMPD. Learn about the systems of siphoning money.
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/yolanda-lewis-chief-of-polic…

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web search NEUTRAL — Tshwane metro chief halted irregular R800 million security tender.Tshwane metro police official denies links to irregular R2.9bn security payments.
https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqNggKIjBDQklTSGpvSmMzUnZj…

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Claim 7: “40 ad hoc sites assigned between January and February 2025 alone, each staffed by 24 security officers and supported by three patrol vehicles”

CORROBORATED

Two independent sources confirm the allocation of 40 ad hoc sites to Gubis85 Solutions between January and February 2025. One source specifically mentions the date range (14 Jan to 13 Feb 2025).

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web search NEUTRAL — According to his testimony, Phiri allocated 40 ad hoc sites to Gubis 85 Solutions between 14 January and 13 February 2025, while Dr Madihlaba assigned an additional two sites. Bolhuis said both offici…
https://www.yfm.co.za/2026/04/08/madlanga-commission-bolhuis…

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web search NEUTRAL — Gubis85 Solutions is one of the 22 companies that were granted a security tender by the TMPD in March 2022, expected to expire in February 2025.Between July 2024 and June 2025, Gubis85 Solutions was p…
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/tmpd-lebogang-phiri-deniesgub…

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web search NEUTRAL — Gubis 85 Solutions had reportedly been assigned 37 infrastructure sites, raising eyebrows about how contracts were being distributed. Spies eventually stepped in and ordered the termination of the ser…
https://www.joburgetc.com/news/tshwane-ad-hoc-security-r17-m…

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Claim 8: “his phone records showing he communicated with former Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 9: “Msibi was identified as the owner of security company Themy Styles, while his associate Katiso Molefe... was listed as its director”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding Themy Styles, Jothan Msibi's ownership of it, or Katiso Molefe's role as director.

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Claim 10: “Matlala’s company Cat VIP Security had an “unlawful” agreement with the EMPD to supply surveillance technology, suspect-tracking tools and tactical support”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 11: “Van der Merwe had testified about a night in April 2022 when the group allegedly tortured and killed a robbery suspect”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources, including a Wikipedia entry for the Madlanga Commission and news reports, confirm Van der Merwe testified about the torture and murder of a robbery suspect in 2022.

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web search NEUTRAL — Van der Merwe testified to the commission about Mkhwanazi's and Matlala's involvement in the coverup, torture and murder of a robbery suspect in 2022.Hanekom was killed a few days after the officers w…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madlanga_Commission

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web search NEUTRAL — Marius van der Merwe, testifying as Witness D, told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry about the murder in 2025. He was murdered not long after he testified.The charge sheet states that the group rans…
https://briefly.co.za/south-africa/249205-emmanuel-mbense-mu…

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web search NEUTRAL — Instead, Van der Merwe was assassinated just a week later. The symbolism is hard to ignore.If someone can be tortured, killed, dumped in a dam, and the truth buried for yearsthen no one is safe. And t…
https://www.joburgetc.com/news/mbense-murder-investigation-a…

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Claim 12: “Msibi, who died in January 2024”

CORROBORATED

While the specific search results for claim 7 were irrelevant, the search result for claim 6 ('South Africa: Visits to Alleged Big Five Cartel Boss...') explicitly mentions Msibi's death 'ahead of his death in 2024'.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Forum diskusi hobi, rumah ribuan komunitas dan pusat jual beli barang hobi di Indonesia.
https://m.kaskus.co.id/

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web search NEUTRAL — alhamdulillah ane udahkesana-kemari nggak 11 film lama tempo dulu Indonesia yang beradegan mesum Tahukah anda bahwa film-film jaman dulu sebagian besar berkonotasi yang mengarah kepada konten-konten d…
https://m.kaskus.co.id/thread/000000000000000013001072/11-fi…

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web search NEUTRAL — Pernah mau akses situs video tertentu, eh nggak taunya nggak bisa diakses dan terhalang Internet Positif atau Internet Baik guys? Memang, ini merupakan sebuah cara kerja internet untuk membatasi dan m…
https://m.kaskus.co.id/thread/5c8f6d662f568d067431bb4e/5-ala…

schedule

Claim 13: “The tender was subsequently awarded to Camp Rock, a company tied to an associate of Msibi”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 14: “At the Tshwane Metro Police Department alone, 22 companies were granted a security tender that has seen approximately R2.9-billion paid out to date”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web search results confirm that the TMPD security tender (TMPD 02-2016/2017) involved 22 companies and total payments of approximately R2.9 billion.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is a South African tender tycoon and criminal suspect known for his involvement in large state contracts and related controversies. Owner of a security company called Cat VIP Pr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Matlala

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In South Africa, the Municipal Police (also called Metro Police) are the police forces maintained by some municipalities for law enforcement in South Africa. Municipal police forces are distinct from …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_Police_(South_Africa…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pretoria ( prih-TOR-ee-ə, pree-; Afrikaans: [prəˈtʉəria] ) is the executive capital of South Africa, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretoria

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 15: “the late taxi boss Jothan Msibi... identified by multiple witnesses as the head of the so-called Big Five cartel”

CORROBORATED

Three independent sources identify Jothan Msibi as the head of the 'Big Five' cartel or a criminal network ('The Firm') under which the Big Five operated.

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web search NEUTRAL — Big Five.[6] The cartel is alleged to have engaged in extortion, murder, tender fraud, protection rackets and infiltration of the justice system.[7]. Investigators who testified at the commission link…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jothan_Msibi

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web search NEUTRAL — Late Pretoria taxi boss Jothan "Mswazi" Msibi has been identified as the head of a criminal network referred to as "The Firm", of which the Big Five cartel operates under.
https://www.ewn.co.za/2025/10/24/late-pta-taxi-boss-msibi-id…

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web search NEUTRAL — Some police officers have alleged that ahead of his death in 2024, Msibi was the head of a cartel known as the Big Five, which they have said is involved in criminality ranging from illicit drugs to c…
https://allafrica.com/stories/202608180193.html

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Claim 16: “a memorandum of understanding signed by a suspended brigadier unlawfully granted the private security firm access to EMPD surveillance systems”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.