PRETORIA - South African Police Service forensic laboratory captain Laurance Makgotloe may face more charges.
He appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of defeating the ends of justice in several high-profile murder cases currently under investigation, as well as evidence before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
According to police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, Makgotloe was found with 28 ballistics reports when he was arrested by the Madlanga Commission’s Recommendations Task Team.
Makgotloe was also found with several rounds of ammunition.
Mathe says Makgotloe's arrest is in relation to Armand Swart's murder case.
Swart was an engineer in Vereeniging who was assassinated in a case of mistaken identity.
He was an employee at Q Tech Engineering Company and was shot dead while seated in his vehicle outside his workplace. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was declared dead on the scene.
READ: Bullet from assassinated Armand Swart took three months to reach labs
It was reported that the assassination was orchestrated to silence him after he blew the whistle about fraud and corruption linked to a Transnet tender contract.
An intensive investigation by the SAPS Head Office Organised Crime team and Crime Intelligence led to the arrest of four suspects.
Among them are alleged hitmen SAPS member Michael Pule Tau, Musa Kekana and Tiego Floyd Mabusela. In December 2024, controversial businessman Katiso Molefe was arrested and charged with Swart’s murder.
His murderers were arrested a few hours later with an official firearm and 15 AK47 rounds found in their possession.
More firearms were found in an abandoned Hyundai i20.
According to Mathe, the firearms were taken to the police head office forensic lab for further investigations. The firearms appeared to be linked to several high-profile murders and attempted murders.
READ: Katiso 'KT' Molefe denied bail in DJ Sumbody murder case
These include the murders of DJ Somebody, DJ Vintos and the attempted murder of DJ Vetty. Makgotloe's report, however, did not state these linkages, which roused suspicions.
The firearms were taken to Amanzimtoti in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape for a second and third opinion. Both labs confirmed that the firearms were linked to other assassination attempts.
"In the value chain of cases, ballistics play an important role," says Mathe.
Bungling up of reports ensures perpetrators walk free and those seeking justice are without it.
Mathe says Makgotloe's case will not yet be merged with the murders of DJ Somebody and others as investigations continue.
READ: WATCH: KT Molefe rocks bulletproof vest to court with armed guards
Businessman Katiso 'KT' Molefe faces charges for the murder of DJ Somebody and his two bodyguards.
Despite the court appearance, Makgotloe still has his job and has not been suspended.
Mathe says they will leave that to the SAPS internal departmental processes.
The case was postponed to 2 June for a formal bail application.