Madlanga Commission: Witness F claims political pressure led to Musa Khawula's urgent arrest

Claims of political interference by Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale in the arrest of an entertainment blogger emerged at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Witness F, a member of the Gauteng Organised Crime unit, was grilled on the arrest of controversial blogger Musa Khawula.

Khawula was arrested in January 2025 following a criminal complaint laid by businessman Ze Nxumalo.

However, at face value, the charges of contravening the Cybercrimes Act did not constitute the urgency with which he was arrested.

Police were reportedly placed under pressure to arrest Khawula only after he allegedly insulted ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula.

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Testifying partially in camera at the commission, Witness F said the former deputy national police commissioner instructed him to act with urgency in arresting the blogger.

“He [Shadrack Sibiya] said this guy [Khawula] insulted a member of Parliament, it’s Mr Fikile Mbalula and the other one is Mr Ze [Nxumalo],” Witness F said.

Witness F said Sibiya allegedly told him that he was being put under political pressure to arrest Khawula.

“He mentioned to me that he was getting put under pressure from the deputy police minister.”

Khawula was arrested in KwaZulu-Natal in January 2025 facing charges related to the Cybercrimes Act, crimen injuria, and hate speech.

Despite attempting to apply for bail several times, Khawula has been denied and labelled a flight risk.

He has been detained at Sun City Prison in Johannesburg for over a year.