General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi Addresses the Big 5 Criminal Cartel

• The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, discussed the Big 5 criminal cartels of Gauteng
• The cartels were initially mentioned when crime intelligence boss General Dumisani Khumalo testified about them at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry
• Mkhwanazi testified at the Ad Hoc Committee in Parliament established to investigate the allegations he made during his 6 July press briefing

With 10 years’ experience, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk, South Africa, provided insights into the criminal justice system, crime statistics, commissions of inquiry, and high-profile cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.

PARLIAMENT, WESTERN CAPE — The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi testified about the Big 5 criminal cartel that crime intelligence boss General Dumisani Khumalo testified about at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Mkhwanazi testified on 8 October 2025 in Parliament in Cape Town. Mkhwanazi was the first witness to appear before the Ad Hoc Committee established to investigate the alleged infiltration of the criminal justice system.

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In a clip News Live SA posted on its @newslivesa X account, Mkhwanazi said he could only speak of the Big 5 criminal cartel bosses who have been arrested. He referred to attempted murder-accused Vusimuzi Matlala and murder-accused Katiso Molefe. Both tendepreneurs are reportedly the heads of two of the Big 5 cartels.

Mkhwanazi said that the remaining three members of the Big 5 are known tendepreneurs. He did not divulge their identities. He said the three members regularly receive tenders from the government.

View the X video here:

A look at the Ad Hoc Committee

The Ad Hoc Committee was formed in July after General Mkhwanazi held his explosive press briefing on 6 July. During the press briefing, Mkhwanazi alleged that a criminal cartel had infiltrated the criminal justice system. He alleged that it recruited police members, members of the judiciary, politicians, businessmen, and prosecutors.

What you need to know about the Ad Hoc Committee

• Member of Parliament David Skosana accused Parliament's legal team of embarrassing the Ad Hoc Committee
• The Ad Hoc Committee's chief evidence leader, Advocate Norman Arendse, warned South Africa and Parliament about the corruption in the country
• Mkhwanazi alleged that Senzo Mchunu allegedly deliberately destroyed evidence from a case police were investigating when he was the KwaZulu-Natal Premier
• General Mkhwanazi also brought a smile to Economic Freedom Fighters president Julius Malema when he commented on his political stance
• Mkhwanazi also said that crime intelligence police officers used funds from the crime intelligence budget to build a perimeter wall around the late former French Ambassador, Nathi Mthethwa

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General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says state money used to build wall around Nathi Mthethwa's house

Mkhwanazi opens case against General Sibiya

In a related article, Briefly News reported that Mkhwanazi informed the Ad Hoc Committee that he opened a case against suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya. He made the revelation on 7 October 2025.

Mkhwanazi said that he asked National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola if he authorised the removal of the 121 dockets from the Political Killings Task Team. When Masemola said no, he asked him to provide him with a statement under oath.

Source: Briefly News