Police stamp, secret chats and a R1m Spy-Tech deal: Msibi’s alleged grabber plot unpacked at Madlanga Commission
The Madlanga Commission is investigating allegations that a suspended police sergeant and his associates attempted to use official SAPS documentation to procure surveillance 'grabber' technology for resale in eSwatini. Evidence presented includes WhatsApp messages and documents bearing police stamps used to facilitate the illicit deal.
Why it matters
The case exposes significant corruption risks within law enforcement procurement and the potential for state-sanctioned surveillance tools to be diverted to private or foreign actors.
Ask AI 1 min Suspended sergeant Fannie Nkosi has been implicated in the scandal of using his police influence to buy a grabber in favour of the late taxi boss, Jotham “King Mswazi” Msibi.
A series of WhatsApp messages presented at the Madlanga Commission has exposed an alleged attempt to use the South African Police Service (SAPS) as a front to acquire sophisticated phone-interception technology for resale in eSwatini.
The evidence allegedly links suspended Sergeant Fannie Nkosi alongside murder accused Katiso “KT” Molefe, late taxi boss Jotham “King Mswazi” Msibi and private security businessman Steve Motsumi in the proposed grabber transaction.
Grabbers can intercept mobile communications and extract data from phones, making them powerful surveillance tools.
On Tuesday, Chief Evidence Leader Matthew Chaskalson told the commission that the group allegedly planned to obtain the equipment from a Czech Republic-based company while representing the transaction as an official police demonstration.
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