Madlanga Commission: SAPS Stamp Misuse Exposed as Evidence Leaders Warn of Fraud Risk
- Evidence leaders at the Madlanga Commission flagged Sergeant Fannie Nkosi for signing SAPS documents on behalf of the organisation for a private deal involving grabber technology
- Advocate Matthew Chaskalson raised concerns about how easily SAPS stamps could be misused in dealings with foreign entities that cannot verify official authorisation
- The commission also heard about exchanges between Nkosi and a contact saved as 'Deputy President' that appeared to reference an arms deal
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SOUTH AFRICA — Evidence leaders at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry concluded on 18 August 2026 that Sergeant Fannie Nkosi signing official South African Police Service documents to facilitate a private deal involving surveillance technology known as grabbers amounted to outright fraud.
According to IOL, Advocate Matthew Chaskalson, addressing commissioners during formal proceedings, stated that the signing of documents on behalf of SAPS without proper authorisation was "an out-and-out fraud," and added that every individual who had knowledge of Nkosi's letter and remained involved was equally implicated in that fraud.
Grabber deal exposes systemic stamp misuse
The inquiry heard that Nkosi had used an official SAPS stamp and force number to allow an international organisation to conduct a demonstration of grabber devices to private individuals in South Africa. Chaskalson, who also explained how jammers block communication devices, raised a pointed question about where this conduct could lead:
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"What if it was weapons and other things that are not authorised by SAPS?"
He noted that while a South African reviewing such a document might recognise its limitations, a foreign supplier, such as a company based in the Czech Republic, would have no way of determining whether the documentation represented the highest level of SAPS authority or not. This, he argued, made the risk "particularly heightened in relation to transactions with foreign countries or with foreign entities."
Arms deal reference surfaces in chats
The commission also examined messages between Nkosi and a contact he had saved under the name "Deputy President DD Mabuza," identified as Mr Mashile, in which what appeared to be a discussion of an arms deal emerged. Chaskalson acknowledged that the full extent of those exchanges remains unknown.
He further pointed out that the only individuals who could be identified as having knowledge of Nkosi's fraudulent representation were one person who is no longer alive and another referred to as Shane or Sean, whose full identity remains unclear. Whether the Czech company involved was aware of the true nature of its dealings with Nkosi also remains unconfirmed.
Watch the Madlanga Commission proceedings and the evidence leaders' conclusions:
Cat Matlala denies EMPD links
In a related article, Briefly News reported on Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's testimony at the Madlanga Commission, where he denied any involvement in contracts awarded by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department. The commission's scrutiny of his dealings raises critical questions surrounding potential corruption linked to municipal structures in Ekurhuleni.
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Source: Briefly News
