Madlanga Inquiry: Organised crime member claims late ‘Big Five’ leader was a father figure

The Madlanga Inquiry has heard testimony from witness F on Tuesday, a member of Gauteng Organised Crime, who claims he was raised by the late feared Pretoria taxi boss, Jothan “Mswazi” Msibi.

Msibi was named as the leader of the Big Five cartel during previous testimony before the commission of inquiry.

Msibi, who died following a short illness in January 2024, was one of the founding members of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco).

The list of questionable characters that witness F has confirmed to be close to continues to grow.

Testifying partially in-camera from a remote location, due to safety concerns, the Gauteng member of Organised Crime has confirmed to have had close ties with criminally accused tender boss, Vusimuzi “cat” Matlala.

Witness F facilitated communication between Matlala and his superior, suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya.

He’s been accused of also facilitating meetings between Sibiya and the feared Bedfordview private security owner Steven Motsumi.

But the most surprising associate someone he considers a father is his confession to being raised by the late Pretoria taxi boss, Jothan “Mswazi” Msibi.

"I was raised by Mswazi while I was still in primary school up until I matriculated. I was staying with him commissioners. I was looking up to him as a father; he was looking up to me as a son."

Msibi is accused of being the president of the Big Five cartel, who are have allegedly captured the criminal justice system in Gauteng.

Witness F will resume with his testimony on Wednesday.

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