The files that vanished after SAPS general’s murder
Two South African police officers have been raided in connection with the alleged removal of sensitive investigative files from the murder scene of Lt-Gen Sindile Mfazi. The files reportedly contained information regarding the Phala Phala farm burglary and the assassination of detective Charl Kinnear.
Why it matters
The case highlights potential high-level corruption and obstruction of justice within South African law enforcement agencies regarding politically sensitive investigations.
Two SAPS officers — one of them a former head of crime intelligence — have been raided by police in connection with allegations that they removed sensitive files, including those linked to an investigation into the Phala Phala case, from a murder scene.
Former top cop Mulangi Mphego and Sgt Ishmail Phungu are alleged to have personally authorised the removal of investigative files without any chain of custody, there was no SAPS 13 receipt acknowledging evidence has been taken or an entry in a pocketbook.
The claims relate to the murder of Lt-Gen Sindile “Pitso” Mfazi at his home in July 2021. The raid, conducted last month, was carried out by the police’s cold case unit. Phungu was Mfazi’s former close protector.
At the time of his death, Mfazi was probing the fallout from the February 2020 burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in