The Madlanga Commission has heard how National Coloured Congress MP Fadiel Adams pushed for action against crime intelligence head Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo and other senior police officials.
Evidence leader Advocate Mahlape Sello told the inquiry on Thursday that Adams had opened several cases involving the same matter.
According to Sowetan, Adams accused Khumalo and other top police officials of wrongdoing.
However, SAPS initially refused to take the matter further.
Police said there was no case and that the allegations were largely based on hearsay.
Six cases opened
The inquiry heard that Adams opened six criminal cases at different police stations in Cape Town and Soweto.
Evidence showed that three Cape Town dockets were opened on 29 October 2024.
Sello said the cases were opened within minutes of one another.
Adams then travelled to Orlando police station in Johannesburg, where he opened three more dockets.
Two days later, on 1 November 2024, Adams wrote to suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu.
He told Mchunu he had opened cases in Cape Town and Orlando and claimed there was interference in police investigations.
Legal opinion found weak evidence
Sello read from a SAPS legal opinion dated 11 December 2024.
The opinion found that the complainant statements were superficial, based on hearsay and lacked key elements needed to support criminal charges.
It also said attempts to obtain evidence from the complainant had been unsuccessful.
The report found no prima facie evidence of criminal conduct.
However, the matter was still referred to the SAPS legal department for legal advice.
Idac later made arrests
After SAPS declined to pursue the matter, Adams approached the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption.
In January 2025, he submitted a sworn affidavit to Idac.
The matter was handed to Brian Padayachee, who later arrested Khumalo, Dineo Mokwele, Maj-Gen Nosipho Madondo, Maj-Gen Philani Lushaba and Gauteng crime intelligence boss Josia Lekalakala.
At the commission, Padayachee faced tough questions from Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga about whether Idac had enough grounds to investigate Adams’ complaint.
The hearing continues.