South African intelligence says it prevented mafia takeover
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on TimesLIVE
South African intelligence says the country could have fallen under the control of criminal networks without its resumption of counter-intelligence operations in Gauteng in February 2025. Acting coordinator Ntandazo Sifolo made the remarks before the Madlanga commission, according to the Sunday Times.
South African intelligence says it took control of Gauteng’s counter-intelligence operations in February 2025 to prevent criminal networks from infiltrating state institutions. Acting coordinator of the National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee (Nicoc), Ntandazo Sifolo, said on Thursday before the Madlanga commission that the country could have been “lost” to criminal networks had the intervention not taken place.
Ntandazo Sifolo was testifying in an inquiry into the alleged “Big Five” cartel, which is accused of drug trafficking, contract killings, cash-in-transit heists, extortion and tender fraud. He said the head of criminal intelligence, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, had then found himself in a situation where he had to hand the matter over to the relevant structures.
Sifolo also said that the public statements by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 6 July 2025 resulted from growing frustration within intelligence structures over leaks of negative reports and allegations of corruption. The Madlanga commission is also investigating allegations of criminal infiltration of state structures.
