Warrant Officer Michael Pule Tau

Brigadier Nkwashu gave an affidavit voluntarily in response to summons to appear at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry regarding allegations of interference in the bail proceedings of Michael Pule Tau, demand for the Armand Swart murder docket, and relationship with Katiso Molefe.

“I make this affidavit voluntarily in response to the summons/subpoena...directing me to appear... in relation to my attempts to interfere the bail proceedings of Michael Pule Tau. The second one was my demand for the Armand Swart murder docket, and my relationship or connection with Katiso Molefe...”

Brigadier Nkhwashu discussed a social gathering with police officers including Sergeant Lebogang Tshukudu, where they talked about escorting suspects, including a police officer suspect named Michael Pule Tau.

“After that meeting, Fundiswa contacted me to enquire how the meeting had gone. I informed her ... The gathering was attended mainly by the police officers ... including Sergeant Lebogang Tshukudu ... Tshukudu and I have been friends since around 2017 ... During the stock fair, Sergeant Tshukudu and the colleagues mentioned that they were ... escorting suspects ... Amongst the suspects that they were escorting, there was a police officer suspect ... Michael Pule Tau”

Brigadier Nkhwashu made a connection that the bail application discussed was related to Michael Pule Tau, due to a request involving his brother-in-law Katiso seeking assistance with the bail of a friend.

“As the conversation went on, it triggered my mind that they are talking about the case that my brother-in-law, Katiso, was intending to lure me to assist him in the bail of this particular person ... this Pule Tau was going for bail application ... I put the puzzle together that this is where Katiso was coming to”

Brigadier Nkhwashu states he never asked Sergeant Tshukudu to approach Witness B or convey any message about Tau's bail application and denies improper interference in the bail proceedings of Tau.

“I never asked Tshukudu to do so ... I never asked Tshukudu to convey any message to Witness B ... I deny that I attempted to interfere improperly in the bail proceedings of Tau ... I specifically deny that I instructed or requested or authorized Sergeant Tshukudu to contact Witness B or any other person regarding Tau's bail ... I did not ask Tshukudu to find out whether the state will oppose bail ... I did not ask him to plead for bail ... I did not ask him to pass any thank you message to Witness B after Tau was granted bail”

Michael Pule Tau was arrested and escorted for a bail application in Brigadier Nkhwashu's jurisdiction.

“He was escorting him and the others to the court for bail application ... obviously, it triggered my mind to say, this is the only case that they can, and this is of a serious nature, and it is a police officer.”

Brigadier Nkhwashu was acting as District Commissioner during the arrest of Michael Pule Tau and coordinated the arrest process.

“During the arrest of Pule Tau, I was acting as a District Commissioner. And hence, I coordinated the arrest of this particular Tau and company.”

Brigadier Nkhwashu acknowledges the puzzle of how Michael Pule Tau, a friend of Mr Molefe and involved in the Armand Swart case, was arrested and why his name came up in discussions relating to bail and job opportunities.

“This friend of mine... happened to be Michael Pule Tau... arrested with Katiso... really agree with you the way you perceive it.”