PRETORIA - Former Hawks boss Godfrey Lebeya has confirmed that he sent Hawks officers to verify the arrest of Katiso “KT” Molefe in December 2024 after receiving a call from influencer Malcolm X.
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission on Thursday, Lebeya said Malcolm X contacted him about concerns surrounding Molefe’s arrest on 6 December 2024.
Malcolm X previously told eNCA that he was acting on behalf of Molefe’s brother, who was one of his clients, and wanted to establish whether there was an arrest warrant for Molefe.
LIVESTREAM | Former Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya testifies
Lebeya denied knowing Molefe or having been contacted by him.
“I do not know Mr Katiso Molefe. I was not contacted by him,” Lebeya told the commission.
“I was contacted by Malcolm X. I directed two senior managers to verify the allegations of persons who were said to be claiming to be members of the DPCI and to have been sent by me.”
Lebeya said he had first met Malcolm X in April 2023 when he visited his offices.
"Malcolm X is not my friend, I also need to add that he is not my enemy."
He also denied instructing Hawks officers to interrupt a legitimate police operation.
The former top cop said the altercation outside Molefe’s home could have been avoided had the head of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), Dumisani Khumalo, informed him about the operation.
Lebeya said it was unfortunate that Khumalo had cited trust issues as the reason for not informing him.
"If I had known, I would not have sent members of the DPCI."
EXCLUSIVE | Malcolm X: I called Lebeya directly
Last year, Gauteng Hawks head Ahmed Kadwa confirmed that Lebeya had asked Hawks officers to verify Molefe’s arrest after receiving the call from him.
Lebeya told the commission that criminals often impersonate police officials to deceive unsuspecting victims.
He said that, by December 2024, the Hawks were aware of more than 30 unresolved cases involving people who had allegedly pretended to be Hawks officials.
“A reasonable national head who is aware of the existence of imposters will not sit back and do nothing when information suggests that some people are pretending to be from the Hawks and having been sent by the same national head,” Lebeya added.