“The commission is investigating accusations Mkhwanazi made during a press conference in July last year that a drug trafficking cartel, subsequently identified as the Big Five, has infiltrated South Africa’s criminal justice sector, politics and private security.”

“The first happened on 22 June 2021, when a 541kg consignment shipped from Brazil and worth between R200-million and R250-million was intercepted at a container depot in Isipingo, KwaZulu-Natal.”

“in November 2021, the cocaine was stolen from a walk-in safe inside the building in Port Shepstone.”

“A cocaine consignment worth about R286-million was intercepted on 9 July 2021 in Aeroton, an industrial area in the south of Johannesburg.”

“Four suspects were initially arrested over this interception: Warrant Officer Marumo Magane of Gauteng’s Zonkizizwe police station; Warrant Officer Steve Phakula, a member of the National Investigation Unit; Samuel Mashaba, who was involved in traffic services in Gauteng; and businessman Tumelo Nku.”

“in early February 2025, a brigadier told him that “the consignment now only weighed 579.40kg and hence that 136.46kg was unaccounted for”. The street value of the missing cocaine amounts to R55-million.”

“Suspended national police commissioner Fannie Masemola... is now facing criminal charges related to a SAPS contract awarded two years ago to a company, Medicare 24 Tshwane District, run by Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.”