Detective tells Madlanga Inquiry that risk assessment on team probing Armand Swart murder was classified as high-risk

A detective attached to organised crime has outlined how a risk assessment classified their assignment as extremely high risk as they worked on the murder investigation of Vereeniging engineer, Armand Swart.

Swart was gunned down outside his company's premises in Vereeniging in April 2024.

ALSO READ: Madlanga Inquiry hears that accused in Armand Swart murder planned to bribe officials to get bail

This, after his company, Q-Tech, flagged gross misconduct in relation to massive price inflation over a Transnet Freight Rail tender.

Witness A testified partially in-camera before the Madlanga Commission on Monday.

The witness testified from a safe house at an undisclosed location with his voice broadcast, but his face being concealed.

Three people, including a police officer, were arrested for Swart’s murder just hours after he was killed.

"It was not to drive to our places; it was not safe to even go to our office because the police were also now involved in this."

He said a threat risk assessment was conducted on members of the investigating team by Crime Intelligence.

"The threat risk assessment was conducted, and it was classified as high risk, so in other words, our lives were in extreme danger."

He said not long after, the team was assigned 24-hour police protection.

"When I opened the window, I saw five marked police vehicles with sirens and their blue lights on. When I went to them, they told me that they were being tasked to come and give protection to me overnight. It was actually the start of 24-hour protection."