Kebby Maphatsoe

Mr Nku was introduced to a person known as 'IBY' or 'EBY' by his distant relative Mr Kebby Maphatsoe, a former Deputy Minister in Military Veterans between 2014 and 2019, which introduction he regarded as significant and credible at the time.

“I was introduced to a person known to me as IBY or EBY, by my distant relative Mr Kebby Maphatsoe. Mr Maphatsoe was known to me not only as a relative but also as a person who had occupied a public office including serving as a member of Parliament and as Deputy Minister in Military Veterans between 2014 and 2019. The introduction was therefore one that I regarded significant and credible at the time.”

Mr Nku became aware of a potential arms and contraband shipment including drugs during the last week of April 2021 from confidential sources and shared this information with Lieutenant General Sindile Mfazi in late June 2021.

“I first became aware of the potential shipment during the last week of April 021 through confidential sources. At that stage, the information was preliminary and indicated a possible shipment involving arms, contraband, including drugs. I shared this information with Lieutenant General Sindile Mfazi, whom I was initially introduced to by former Deputy Minister of Defence, Kebby Maphatsoe, as he expressed that Lieutenant General Mfazi was his compatriot in exile. Further details were received and shared in late June 2021.”

Chief Mashaba identifies 'DD' as Tumza's uncle, Kebby Maphatsoe, who has passed away.

“DD is Tumza's uncle”

Advocates Segels-Ncube and Khumalo challenge Chief Mashaba's identification of 'DD' as Kebby Maphatsoe, pointing out that 'DD' commonly refers to Deputy President DD Mabuza, reappointed in May 2019, creating doubt about honesty in testimony.

“Certain words from ADV BALOYI SC”

Chief Mashaba refuses to comment further on the identity confusion around 'DD' and states that Mr Kebby Maphatsoe is deceased.

“Certain words from CHIEF MASHABA”

Chief Mashaba says he would know Mr Kebby Maphatsoe is back because he would be seeing him on TV, even if he is abroad, but he cannot confirm he is back just by seeing him abroad on TV.

“Obviously I would be seeing him on TV. He can be on TV even if he is abroad ... No, I cannot be saying he is back while I am seeing him abroad on TV. He must have been landed in our country ...”

Chief Mashaba said it makes more sense that the late Deputy President was back to his position and it would have been public knowledge, unlike Mr Kebby Maphatsoe whose return is not so clearly known.

“it makes more sense that perhaps it was a late Deputy President because you would have seen that he was back to his position ... So it makes sense for you to say, I see that he is back. But with Mr Kebby Maphatsoe it is not necessarily the same ...”

Advocate Khumalo accuses Chief Mashaba of lying to the Commission by giving untruthful evidence about Mr Kebby Maphatsoe's return date.

“Chief Mashaba, in the era of Google, you should not be lying about facts that are publicly verifiable. And what you are doing now is you are lying to the Commission ... I do not often use that word, lying ... why are you lying on such a meaningless issue?”

Chief Mashaba denies lying and claims if it was DD Mabuza, he would have no reason to lie about a late person.

“I am not lying, Commissioners. I know Mr Nku calls Kebby DD. Like I am saying, if it was DD Mabuza, I would see no reason to lie about a late person.”

Kebby Maphatsoe only took office on June 15, 2019, after Mr Jeff Gadebe resigned, so it would be impossible to know he was back on May 29, 2019.

“Chief, if it was Kebby Maphatsoe, he only came into office on the 15th of June 2019 after Mr Jeff Gadebe resigned ... So how would you know on May 29 that he was going to take over ... ?”

Chief Mashaba initially did not understand the question about May 29 but later, on being reminded, said he remembered that the person was back in the country, though he was unsure of the purpose.

“Now that you are telling me ... what I was meaning here is he is back in the country, now that you are reminding me, I remember ... maybe he was back for this, I do not know.”