PRETORIA - The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has heard that an undercover crime operative knew about the plot to assassinate former ANC Youth League secretary Sindiso Magaqa weeks before he was gunned down in 2017.
Testifying as Witness E, the crime operative, told the commission, which resumed hearings on Monday, that he became aware of the planned hit directly from the triggerman.
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At the time, Witness X was working undercover on a project.
After receiving the information, Witness X reported it to his superiors and proposed several steps that could have been taken to prevent the assassination.
However, he said his efforts were met with failure as they did not want to listen to him.
Continuing his testimony, Witness E further told the commission that one of the shooters was a police informant and that the alleged assailants were his superiors.
Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga questioned why Witness E would report the plot to officials who were allegedly involved in facilitating the murder.
In response, Witness E said that at the time he raised the alarm, his superiors were not yet aware that they would be approached to assist in the killing.
This was why he was able to propose that police seize the vehicle and AK-47 rifle supplied to the informant in order to allegedly stop the assassination.
He told the commission that the same senior officers he had warned later provided the vehicle and firearm used in Magaqa's murder.
There were parallels in Witness X and KwaZulu-Natal Acting Deputy Provincial Commissioner Anthony Gopaul.
Gopaul has testified that now suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s interest in the February 2025 assassination of ANC Mandeni ward councillor Phendukani Mabhida.
READ | Political killings | Murdered ANC councillor an 'anchor' of community
Mabhida was killed after reportedly exposing alleged corruption linked to his municipality. Two suspected hitmen have since been arrested.
Gopaul told the commission that Mchunu contacted him on two occasions, first to enquire about the circumstances surrounding Mabhida’s killing and later to ask for updates on the arrests.
He said the calls were unusual, noting that it was not standard practice for a minister to contact him directly, especially given that he had no relationship with Mchunu.
READ | 'Its not normal': Gopaul details Mchunu calls over slain KZN ANC councillor
A similar account was shared by Witness X, who testified that Mchunu contacted him on 7 December 2024.
Witness X said he was shocked to receive the call, particularly because his phone number was highly restricted.
He testified that Mchunu reached out after learning that Witness X allegedly had information implicating SAPS Crime Intelligence officials in the planning and killing of Magaqa's murder.