Musa Khawula, the controversial social media commentator, was allegedly targeted for arrest under pressure from the office of former deputy police minister Cassel Mathale, the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has heard.
Witness F told the commission that police were instructed to urgently execute a warrant of arrest against Khawula on charges of crimen injuria, following complaints from ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and businessman Ze Nxumalo.
According to the witness, the instruction bypassed normal policing channels and came directly from political authority.
“I received a call from [suspended deputy police commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack] Sibiya telling me the matter was of importance and there was pressure from the deputy minister’s office,” Witness F testified.
The warrant was circulated shortly after Khawula publicly exposed alleged cartel figure Vusi “Cat” Matlala on X. Witness F admitted that he sent the warrant to Matlala to help police locate Khawula, and Matlala reportedly responded with “Asbonge” [Thank you].
When advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC, the commission’s chief evidence leader, asked who had applied the pressure, Witness F replied: “Cassel Mathale.”
The charge on the warrant stemmed from claims by Mbalula and Nxumalo.
In October 2024, Khawula had published defamatory statements about Nxumalo, alleging: “Dr Tamaryn Green-Nxumalo is with child while her husband Ze Nxumalo is cheating on her,” prompting Nxumalo to demand a retraction or face criminal charges.
The hearing also revisited Khawula’s prior legal troubles.
In July 2024, he was jailed for 90 days for contempt of court after defying a defamation ruling obtained by Nozuko Mbalula, barring him from posting corruption allegations about her online.