Sinawo Thambo Defends Julius Malema and EFF Over Madlanga Commission Revelations on Communications with General Feroz Khan
Johannesburg — EFF National Spokesperson Sinawo Thambo has robustly defended party leader Julius Malema against allegations arising from the Madlanga Commission, framing communications between Malema and SAPS Major General Feroz Khan as legitimate information sharing rather than anything improper.
In a detailed post on X on Monday evening, Thambo questioned the portrayal of the exchanges as sensational “breaking news.” He argued that a law enforcement official communicating information with a public representative (an MP) is standard practice aimed at accountability. “Is the suggestion that whistleblowers are corrupt when they whistle blow to Julius Malema?” Thambo asked.
He drew a comparison to Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who publicly discussed raising concerns through official channels — including the Portfolio Committee Chair of Police, the National Commissioner, and the President — without those communications being treated as suspicious. Thambo warned that criminalising such information sharing between officials and public representatives would undermine Parliament itself.
“If sharing of information of conduct within public institutions with public representatives in order to aid accountability is a crime, then the Parliament of South Africa is at risk of collapse,” he wrote. Thambo challenged the Madlanga Commission to examine the phones of all MPs to test the principle and noted that Members of Parliament routinely rely on whistleblowers and inside information from public institutions to perform their oversight role effectively.
The comments follow disclosures in court documents tied to Khan’s interdict bid against the SAPS and the commission. An affidavit by investigator Tshepo Nyatlo outlines WhatsApp exchanges involving Khan, Carnilinx co-founder Mohamed Sayed, and Malema. These allegedly show Khan leaking confidential details (including the identity of a VBS complainant) and Malema offering political backing, with messages urging Khan not to resign
