CCN

28 September 2026 | 20:30

PRETORIA — The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has heard evidence raising questions about how taxi boss Oupa “Bafana” Sindane allegedly obtained access to confidential South African Police Service information.

The material presented to the commission included internal police reports, information relating to the murder investigation of Sergeant Marcus Lekalakala and a letter purportedly signed by suspended National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola.

Evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC raised concerns about the nature and level of information allegedly available to Sindane, suggesting that the material went beyond ordinary publicly available information.

The evidence forms part of the commission’s broader examination of alleged relationships between police officials, taxi-industry figures and individuals linked to criminal investigations.

Confidential murder investigation material

One of the documents examined by the commission was described as an internal SAPS report relating to the murder of Sergeant Marcus Lekalakala.

Chaskalson raised concerns about Sindane’s possession of the document and the level of detail contained in it.

The report allegedly identified various role players at the scene, including police officials as senior as the rank of major-general.

It also contained information relating to the investigation into Lekalakala’s murder, including details about the unit responsible for the investigation.

The evidence leader questioned how such information had reached a taxi-industry figure who was not part of the police investigation.

The concern, according to the evidence presented, was not simply that Sindane had obtained a copy of an internal report, but that he allegedly had access to information about the investigation itself and the officials involved in it.

Questions over an alleged police leak

The evidence raised the possibility that someone inside SAPS may have been providing Sindane with confidential information.

That remains an issue for the commission to investigate.

At this stage, there has been no finding identifying a specific police official as the source of the information.

The commission will have to establish how the documents were obtained, who had access to them before they reached Sindane and whether any SAPS officials improperly disclosed confidential information.

Letter purportedly from General Masemola

The commission also heard about a letter purportedly signed by National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola.

According to evidence reported from Monday’s hearing, the document was addressed to divisional and provincial commissioners and dealt with the appointment of an acting head of Crime Intelligence.

Sindane reportedly forwarded the document to another contact with the message:

“I told you, my brother.”

The commission heard that the document was apparently interpreted by those involved as confirming the suspension of Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya.

However, Chaskalson said the commission would still have to establish whether the letter was genuine.

The evidence leader said the individuals who had the document appeared to have assumed that it was a legitimate internal SAPS communication — and that they had access to information they should not have had.

That distinction is significant because the commission has not yet made a finding that the document was authentic or that the people who possessed it obtained it unlawfully.

Other SAPS information allegedly reached Sindane

The commission also heard that Sindane allegedly had access to other confidential police material.

This included internal shooting reports and other documents that would ordinarily be handled within SAPS investigative or management structures.

The evidence is being examined alongside WhatsApp communications recovered from Sindane’s cellphone.

The phone material has already become an important part of the commission’s investigation into his alleged relationships with police officers.

Earlier on Monday, the commission heard evidence about police officers allegedly arranging escorts for Sindane and about communications in which a police officer appeared to seek money from him. (Africa Daily⁠)

Why the information matters

The commission is investigating allegations concerning the relationship between sections of the police service and figures in the taxi industry.

If confidential investigative information was improperly passed from police officials to people outside SAPS, the commission may need to establish:

• Who provided the information.
• How the information was obtained.
• Which police officials had access to the documents.
• Whether confidential investigations were compromised.
• Whether suspects or other people were alerted to police activity.
• Whether any police officials breached SAPS rules or the law.

These questions remain to be answered through evidence.

Sindane’s position

Sindane has been subpoenaed to appear before the commission and has faced questions concerning material found on his cellphone.

He is also a co-accused with taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni in a separate criminal case involving allegations of extortion and money laundering.

The criminal allegations against Sindane remain unproven and must be determined through the courts.

The commission itself does not determine criminal guilt.

The bigger investigation

The evidence concerning confidential police information adds another dimension to the commission’s examination of Sindane’s relationship with law-enforcement officials.

The inquiry has already heard evidence about alleged police escorts, WhatsApp communications with officers and other interactions between Sindane and members of SAPS.

The latest evidence raises a separate question: whether Sindane’s alleged access to police information was the result of individual leaks or reflected a broader network of access within the police service.

That question will require the commission to trace the origin of each document and establish the chain through which it allegedly reached Sindane.

What We Know

• The Madlanga Commission heard evidence about confidential SAPS information allegedly found in Sindane’s possession.
• One document reportedly concerned the murder investigation of Sergeant Marcus Lekalakala.
• The material allegedly contained detailed information about the investigation and police personnel involved.
• The commission also heard about a letter purportedly signed by National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola.
• The authenticity of that letter still has to be tested.
• Other internal SAPS material, including shooting reports, was also allegedly found in Sindane’s possession.
• The evidence has raised questions about whether someone inside SAPS may have supplied confidential information.
• No finding has been made identifying the alleged source of the information.
• Sindane remains presumed innocent of criminal allegations against him.

The Big Question

How did confidential SAPS information — including details of an active or past murder investigation — allegedly end up in the possession of a taxi-industry figure?

The answer could help the commission determine whether the material was obtained through legitimate channels, individual leaks or a wider network of police contacts.

What Happens Next

The commission is likely to examine the documents, their authenticity, their origins and the officials who had access to them.

Investigators and evidence leaders may also seek to establish the chain of custody of the documents and compare the information contained in them with SAPS records.

The commission will ultimately have to distinguish between legitimate access to information, unauthorised disclosure and any conduct that may have compromised police investigations.

For now, the evidence remains allegations and testimony before an inquiry. No finding of wrongdoing has been made against Sindane or any SAPS official in relation to the documents.

Featured image caption

Taxi boss Oupa “Bafana” Sindane is at the centre of evidence at the Madlanga Commission concerning his alleged access to confidential SAPS information.

Article information

Category: Madlanga Commission / Crime
Location: Pretoria, Gauteng
Key figure: Oupa “Bafana” Sindane
Evidence leader: Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC
Documents: Internal SAPS reports and a letter purportedly from General Fannie Masemola
Status: Evidence under examination

Legal note

Evidence presented before a commission of inquiry is not automatically proof of criminal wrongdoing. The allegations concerning Sindane’s possession of confidential SAPS information and the identity of any person who may have supplied it remain matters for investigation and determination. Sindane is presumed innocent of criminal allegations unless proven guilty in a court of law.