• Evidence before the Madlanga Commission allegedly links a police officer, businessmen and murder accused Katiso Molefe to a plan involving phone interception technology.

• The commission heard claims that a police stamp and force number were used to make the proposed deal appear connected to official police business.

Explosive WhatsApp messages presented at the Madlanga Commission have opened a window into an alleged plan involving powerful spying equipment, police credentials and a proposed deal with eSwatini.

The technology, known as a grabber, can intercept mobile communications and collect information from phones.

Madlanga Commission Chief Evidence Leader Matthew Chaskalson took the commission through messages and documents on Tuesday that allegedly show how the proposed deal was discussed.

Here are five things to know:

-The deal allegedly involved powerful phone spying technology: At the centre of the evidence is technology known as a grabber.

The equipment can intercept mobile communications and extract data from cellphones, making it a powerful surveillance tool.

According to evidence presented at the commission, there was a plan to obtain the equipment from a company based in the Czech Republic.

But Chaskalson claimed the equipment was ultimately intended to be sold to eSwatini.

“Msibi, Nkosi, Motsumi and Molefe have a plan to sell grabber technology to eSwatini,” he said.

-Four men were linked to the alleged plan: The evidence allegedly links suspended Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, murder accused Katiso “KT” Molefe, late taxi boss Jotham “King Mswazi” Msibi and private security businessman Steve Motsumi to the proposed transaction.

Msibi was identified as the owner of security company Themy Styles, while Molefe was listed as a director.

Molefe is also facing trial related claims linked to the murders of musicians DJ Sumbody and DJ Vintos.

The allegations involving the grabber are evidence being examined by the commission and have not been proven.

-Police credentials allegedly gave the deal an official face: One of the biggest questions raised by the evidence is how the South African Police Service allegedly became connected to the proposed deal.

The commission heard that documents sent to the Czech supplier carried police stamps.

Chaskalson claimed Nkosi used a police stamp and his force number on a procurement document.

The alleged plan was to present the transaction as being connected to an official police demonstration.

According to the evidence, this would help convince the supplier that it was dealing with a legitimate police operation even though the equipment was allegedly intended for eSwatini.

-WhatsApp messages referred to a Swazi deal: The WhatsApp messages gave the commission a glimpse of conversations behind the proposed transaction.

In January 2023, a person saved on Nkosi’s phone as “Shaun Jacobs — phone expert” reportedly asked whether the “Swazi deal” was still possible.

Nkosi forwarded the message to Msibi.

Msibi replied: “It’s on the table but they have to display. We don’t want to become fools.”

The commission heard that the planned demonstration was meant to reassure the Czech supplier about the transaction.

The messages now form part of the evidence being examined to understand what the men allegedly intended to do with the surveillance equipment.

-The evidence stretched from cigarettes to red water: The grabber deal was not the only issue uncovered in the messages presented to the commission.

Chaskalson also examined conversations involving Msibi and Kyle Phillips, a director of tobacco company Carnilinx.

Those exchanges allegedly dealt with repeated thefts and hijackings of cigarette consignments.

Chaskalson said a person named “Ali”, whom he described as a suspected robber, communicated with Phillips about recovering stolen cigarette stock.

Another exchange introduced “red water” into the evidence.

Phillips allegedly offered Msibi the substance, which was described as being associated with illegal gold processing.

The different conversations have widened the range of relationships and activities now being examined by the Madlanga Commission.

But the claims remain allegations contained in evidence before the inquiry.

The commission is expected to hear more evidence as it digs deeper into the alleged relationships, transactions and use of police resources at the centre of its investigation.

Pictured above: WhatsApp messages presented at the Madlanga Commission form part of evidence about an alleged eSwatini surveillance technology deal.

Image source: File