Crime

MBABANE - The name of the late National Commissioner of Police, William Tsitsibala Dlamini, featured prominently during day 52 of proceedings at South Africa’s Madlanga Commission.

This was when questioning focused on the conduct and disclosures of a witness identified as Witness F’s testimony, which placed the late former Police Commissioner William Tsitsibala Dlamini at the centre of sensitive cross-border communications.

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, commonly known as the Madlanga Commission, was established in July 2025 by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and is chaired by retired Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga. It is probing allegations of collusion and corruption involving politicians, senior police officers, prosecutors, intelligence operatives and members of the Judiciary in South Africa, following claims made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

During the session in question, Advocate Matthew Chaskalson led Witness F through a series of exhibits relating to messages exchanged in the early hours of October 7, 2023, shortly after the death of the National Commissioner.

According to the evidence, at about 4:30am, Witness F received a message from South African Deputy National Commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya stating that the National Commissioner of Eswatini had died at OR Tambo International Airport and that he (Sibiya) was heading there.

Witness F later forwarded the same message to a civilian identified as Mswazi Msibi, also referred to as ‘Mswazi Taxi Boss’, indicating that the information had come from ‘Number one’.

Advocate Chaskalson questioned Witness F on why he referred to General Sibiya as ‘Number One’ in his communication with Msibi. Witness F repeatedly stated that this was simply how he referred to General Sibiya and claimed he did not know whether Msibi understood who ‘Number One’ was.

The commission, however, challenged this explanation. Witness F was told it was improbable that he would forward such information without believing the recipient would understand who was being referenced. The presiding commissioner stated that denying this amounted to dishonesty, asserting that Witness F clearly knew Msibi would understand that ‘Number One’ referred to General Sibiya.

Further, questioning centred on why Witness F shared information received from his superior, in a subordinate work context, with a civilian. Witness F responded that he informed Msibi because of the latter’s relationship with Eswatini, saying he had business interests in the country and links with the kingdom. He maintained that he was not briefing Msibi on General Sibiya’s movements, but merely informing him of the death of the Eswatini police chief.

The commission rejected this distinction, stating that the information was South African Police Service (SAPS) information shared by a superior with a subordinate, and that forwarding it to a civilian constituted another instance of inappropriate disclosure. When asked directly whether he had shared SAPS information with a civilian, Witness F declined to comment further.

The inquiry also examined Witness F’s personal relationship with Msibi, described in his phone contacts as ‘Mswazi The Taxi Boss’. Witness F testified that this person had raised him from primary school until Grade 11, and that he regarded him as a father figure, while the individual viewed him as a son. He said the contact was saved like that because that was how the individual preferred to be addressed, explaining that he had previously saved him as ‘baba’ (father) but later changed it at his request.

Eswatini Former National Commissioner of Police Dlamini reportedly collapsed and died at OR Tambo International Airport while travelling from Angola, where he had attended the 26th Interpol African Regional Conference. His death prompted immediate communication among senior police officials in South Africa, some of which are now under scrutiny by the Madlanga Commission.

The commission continues to hear evidence as it examines the broader implications for accountability and integrity within the criminal justice system in South Africa.

The late National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police, William Tsitsibala Dlamini.