Explainer: How Blogger Musa Khawula became entangled in the Madlanga Commission

A lot of people seem to be confused about how Musa Khawula, the South African entertainment blogger, has been implicated at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. Let me break it down.

Essentially, in 2025, or late 2024, Musa Khawula took to social media - specifically X - where he published several posts about high-profile figures.

One involved Fikile Mbalula, allegedly, and another a businessman identified as Zee Nxumalo.

In the weeks that followed, Khawula was in contact with the head of organised crime in Gauteng, Richard Shibiri, asking questions about criminally accused tender tycoon Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

During that conversation, Khawula sought information about Matlala’s dating history and previous relationships. Shibiri responded by advising him not to publish a story on Matlala, describing him as a private individual who had not wronged anyone.

From there, the situation becomes less clear. What followed was alleged pressure from then deputy minister of police, Cassel Mathale, on the suspended deputy national police commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya, to arrest Khawula.

The pressure is alleged to have been politically motivated, given that Khawula had allegedly insulted Mbalula and businessman Zee Nxumalo. However, Matlala’s name also entered the mix, with Khawula having engaged Gauteng organised crime officials about publishing posts related to him or obtaining information for a story.

As a result, Gauteng police were allegedly placed under immense political pressure to arrest Musa Khawula.

Khawula was arrested in KwaZulu-Natal in January 2025. Despite multiple bail applications, he was denied bail. He was charged under the Cybercrimes Act, as well as with crimen injuria and hate speech, and has been detained at Sun City Prison in Johannesburg for more than a year.