A dramatic scene unfolded in Gauteng when a helicopter from the Traffic Police hovered above the home of controversial businessman and murder-accused Katiso “KT” Molefe for nearly ten minutes during his arrest. The aircraft was not there to assist the detectives leading the operation, but, as later revealed, to prevent what was believed to be a “bogus operation”.

The Day Of The Arrest

According to testimony presented before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, the helicopter circled Molefe’s property at the same time that Hawks officers and specialised police units were executing his arrest. Witness A, a detective from the Organised Crime Unit of the South African Police Service in Gauteng, confirmed that the air activity took place while the official operation was already underway at Molefe’s gate.

The arrest was being conducted jointly by members of the Organised Crime and Tactical Response units and was under the supervision of the Political Killings Task Team. Witness A’s detailed account has now added an unexpected layer to the ongoing inquiry into alleged collusion and corruption involving politicians, senior police officers, prosecutors, intelligence officials, and elements of the judiciary — allegations initially raised by KwaZulu-Natal’s Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Linked To The Murder Of An Engineer

Molefe’s arrest is connected to the high-profile murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart, who was shot dead in April 2024. Investigators believe that Swart was killed after the hitmen mistakenly targeted him instead of his employer. The company Swart worked for had reportedly uncovered a 4 650% overpricing scheme on small engineering components at Transnet, a revelation that may have set the chain of events in motion.

Unexpected Visit From The Hawks

While police were conducting the search and seizure at Molefe’s residence, Witness A said they were called to the gate to meet a second group of Hawks members who demanded to know whether the operation at the house was legitimate. The officer in charge of that group, identified as Captain Kruger, claimed his team had been dispatched by the national head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), better known as the Hawks. At the time, Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya was still leading the directorate before his retirement.

“I told them (Hawks team) this was a legit operation taking place at Katiso’s house, and we were executing the J50 (arrest). They asked where we were coming from. We told them we come from Organised Crime, and we are effecting an arrest. They wanted to know the case number and the nature of the operation,”

Witness A testified.

He described it as highly irregular for Hawks officers to question or interfere in a case being executed by another policing unit, particularly when proper authorisations were already in place.

The Helicopter Appears

Shortly after the exchange at the gate, the detective said the noise of helicopter blades filled the air.

“There was a presence of a helicopter hovering so low over Molefe’s house, and making turns for about 10 minutes. It was a metro police helicopter (Gauteng Traffic Police). It was operated by George Raftopoulos (Chief Inspector of the Gauteng Traffic Police Airwing). Raftopoulos told us that he was requested by a certain Captain (Kruger) from DPCI, who said there was a bogus operation happening, and they needed to stop it.”

Witness A said the presence of the helicopter caused confusion and immediate concern among the officers on the ground. Unsure whether the aircraft had authorisation, they contacted their commanders to report what was happening. The fear, he explained, was that they could be overpowered if the airborne team intervened before they managed to take Molefe into custody.

Continuing Testimony Before The Commission

The testimony by Witness A has now become a key focus of the Madlanga Commission, which seeks to uncover whether elements within law enforcement may have acted in concert to disrupt legitimate investigations or manipulate sensitive cases. His account paints a picture of disorder and competing interests within the country’s top policing agencies.

The commission, which continues to hear evidence, is expected to call further witnesses to clarify why a helicopter under the command of the Gauteng Traffic Police was mobilised to the scene of a lawful arrest, and under whose authority the operation was challenged.

As the inquiry progresses, it is becoming increasingly clear that the arrest of Katiso “KT” Molefe is about more than just one man’s alleged crimes. It has exposed deeper fractures within South Africa’s security apparatus — fractures that the Madlanga Commission must now confront.