Witness: Mr Shongwe, Witness L. Evidence Leader: Adv A Hassim SC.
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During the Ad Hoc Committee proceedings, Mr Shongwe raised many questions, particularly concerning allegations against Major General Feroz Khan.
“your raised questions, many questions during the sitting of the Ad Hoc Committee, but in particular and what is of relevance today is that you raised questions concerning allegations against Major General Feroz Khan.”
Mr Shongwe, alias Thulani, confirmed that the evidence he wishes to speak to relates to incidents following the questions he raised in the Ad Hoc Committee concerning allegations against Major General Feroz Khan.
“the evidence that you want to speak today is what followed, incidents that followed the questions that you raised in the Ad Hoc Committee.”
Following the media briefing by General Mkhwanazi, an Ad Hoc Committee was established in Parliament to examine the matters discussed.
“Following the media briefing, an Ad Hoc Committee was established in Parliament to examine these matters.”
The Ad Hoc Committee relied on investigative material compiled by the police and documents from witnesses' statements and whistleblowers to conduct its work.
“the committee relied upon the investigative material compiled by the police, as well as a document compiled by the witnesses' statements submitted by Evidence Leader and whistleblowers.”
The Ad Hoc Committee does not possess extensive independent investigative resources and therefore relies on material provided to it using analytic rigor to connect relevant facts and evidence.
“the Ad Hoc Committee does not possess the extensive independent investigative resources, and therefore necessarily relies on the material provided to it, applying analytic rigour to connect the relevant facts and evidence presented.”
General Mkhanazi convened a media briefing on 6 July 2025 addressing developments within the South African Police.
“On the 6th of July 2025, General Mkhwanazi convened a media briefing in which he addressed matters pertaining to developments within the South African Police.”
The investigative work and submission by Mr Shongwe were prompted by the serious nature and gravity of allegations against General Feroz Khan.
“What prompted my submission were the serious nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against u General Khan.”
Strong political pushback occurred from EFF led by Honourable Malema against calling Gamalakha Babau Khan (Mr Khan) as witness in the Ad Hoc Committee.
“There was an argument when it comes to igamalaka Babau Khan (the name of Mr Khan), where other political parties, strongly so EFF by Honourable Malema, pushes back saying there is no need to call igamalaka”
Some names were submitted to the Ad Hoc Committee for possible probe, including President Ramaphosa, Padayachee, Moodley, and others; the name of General Khan came from EFF's list of 18 people to be called as witnesses.
“We submitted names like President Ramaphosa, and the other names were Padayachee, Moodley, and the likes... the name General Khan was mentioned, I was busy on the other names mentioned by General Mkhwanazi... the list was submitted... the name General Khan comes from EFF, where they had a list of 18 people.”
The witness was not supportive of mentioning General Khan's name at a certain point and indicated embarrassment when it was pushed on them by other Honorable members of Parliament.
“I was not supportive on that day. If you can check the video, I did not even talk much on that day. But the level of embarrassment that was pushed on our name...”
The witness started investigating why General Khan's name was specifically pushed, drawing parallels with President Ramaphosa whom the ANC would want to protect, and identifying a so-called 'Indian Cabal' related to IDAC involving persons such as Johnson, Padayachee, Khan, Paul O'Sullivan, and Brian McKnight.
“Then later, that is when I started looking at this thing... so-called Indian Cabal... a subject of many in IDAC... there is a certain relationship when I connect dots between Johnson, Padayachee, Khan, I also put in Paul O'Sullivan there, Brian...”
There was an assault case involving General Khan at the Benzahona office which was opened and then disappeared for a while, indicating possible interference or mishandling.
“General Khan has an assault case labheka sebenzakhona, was an officer (where he was working, he assaulted an officer) and the case is opened... It disappeared for a while.”
Umama Johnson and her husband were involved in an interview process for an Intelligence post, where the husband was called for the interview and reportedly got the post, but the wife claimed she was not on the panel and did not know about the post, which was inconsistent with the scoring system explained.
“You are arresting Mr Khumalo General Khumalo for hiring a lady from BMW. But you yourself were in a panel that interviewed your husband... The husband gets called there. He gets the post... She says no but that one she told me, and then he told me, and then it ended there... It did not make sense to me.”
The assault case involving General Khan allegedly disappeared and remains without findings, despite being the case that Umama Johnson was supposed to be handling.
“The case of assault where Johnson was supposed to look at that case, apparently or allegedly, the case disappears and there was no findings still today on that case.”
The witness posited that IDAC is now being used as a weapon, implying misuse or weaponization of this institution in the context of the allegations and general investigations.
“My focus was on IDAC and IPID specifically... it is now utilised as a weapon.”
General Khumalo removed General Khan temporarily from a powerful intelligence position and replaced him with Ma'am Madondo, which Khan apparently disliked.
“General Khumalo removes General Khan in the office, kwiyi (in the) Intelligence space... General Khumalo takes umama Madondo, ufakwalapha (Ma'am Madondo, he puts her there) in that space where Khan was operating... Now, when that happens, Khan apparently did not like that because that position is very powerful, the Intelligence one.”
The husband of Ma'am Johnsong got a job in the intelligence unit, which raised questions about the selection process since others scored higher but did not get the job.
“the husband of Ma'am Johnsong got the work) scored by three people. The other people who were interviewed did not get the job, but they were scored by four people. It did not make sense to me”
General Khumalo and Ma'am Madondo were charged after the events involving the intelligence post changes, raising questions about the motivations behind these charges.
“General Khumalo is charged right after these things happened, where uMadondo also is charged.”
There is confusion and lack of transparency about the referral process to IDAC regarding the arrest of General Khumalo, with no official referral provided so far.
“Even today, when we ask Ma'am Johnsong for the referral of arresting General Khumalo... Even today we do not have it that where was the referral ? How was this referred to IDAC ? What happened ? We never got the gist of this matter, including today.”
IDAC charged General Khan, while IDAC charged General Khumalo on HR-related matters; there is skepticism about the validity and timing of these charges.
“But who charges Khan, General Khan ? Is IDAC. Now, IDAC charges General Khumalo on HR-related matters... she replies like a prophet that this is a State Capture... So it is like Khumalo is being arrested for something that is going to happen. Not what is happening currently.”
IDAC requires a referral to institute a case, but in the Khumalo saga, no referral was provided, and the case appears to be fabricated.
“IDAC cannot on its own institute a case according to what they say. However, in the Khumalo saga, apparently there is no referral. It was then alleged that is going to be cooked up, but we never got it even today.”
If the march goes out of hand, Khumalo will be blamed; if successful, Khumalo and the team will be credited, raising questions about the reason for his arrest despite the trust.
“Because today, if the march goes out of hand, Khumalo will be blamed. If the march is successfully guarded, Khumalo and the team will be given credit. So if that is the case, why then arrest this person and bring him back and trust him with such ? It does not make sense still right now.”
General Khumalo was arrested due to allegations involving a woman from BMW, raising suspicions about the legitimacy of the arrest and whether the hiring was done properly.
“Mr Khumalo was arrested for a lady from BMW. Some even thought it was his woman. And even that issue, we still want to check it, as to is it true now that the lady was hired in the right way.”
There is an unexplained discrepancy why people who did the same things as General Khumalo were not arrested, but Khumalo was detained.
“Why is it that people who did the very same issue subaba Khumalo are Nzile bange kho arrested, but this one is arrested.”
IDAC hired a person named Suneel who had a warrant of arrest, but the docket was lost, raising concerns about case management and accountability within IDAC.
“IDAC hired this person who had a warrant of arrest. I later get that the docket was sibiyaed. The term sibiyaed is ukulahleka kwamadocket, bathi ulahla amadocket uSibiya (the loss of dockets, they say Sibiya loses the dockets).”
Weapons including 65 guns were reported lost at Pheri Police Station, with only 2 recovered from a dustbin, raising suspicion about the loss and recovery story.
“there was a story of 65 guns that got lost e Pheri Police Station and he recovered two ... what kind of a criminal would leave 10 guns in the dustbin?”
Padayachee was alleged to have bugged phones including that of General Xele and was implicated in a case which then disappeared.
“Padayachee bugged his phone and General Xele's phone ... there was a case about that... this case disappears.”
Padayachee and Moodley were not held accountable while someone else was arrested and blamed for wrongdoing.
“Somebody is arrested and takes the fall. Nothing happens to Padayachee and Moodley.”
General Khani, a wealthy businessman with a low SAPS salary, was strategically positioned in intelligence and allegedly uses his position for extortion and influence.
“General Khani is one, a business person ... SAPS salary is too little ... But when you look at this thing ... General Khani is sitting in a strategic position ... it is like an extortionist type of way ...”
Certain individuals from IDAC including Khan and Bayasebenzi work together and are alleged to protect cases for financial gain by keeping dockets and guarding cases in exchange for money.
“... they keep dockets, and then they say faka imali, sizokukadela (put the money in and then we will guard for you) in a protection way ... The four of them are from the IDAC ... working together.”
General Khan is wealthy and holds a strategic position in SAPS intelligence, raising suspicion about his motivations and loyalty to SAPS.
“General Khan ... is so wealthy ... if it is for the love of SAPS, why in the Intelligence?”
Mr. Shongwe worked in SAPS from 2006 to about 2015 in the colleges space, training members in advanced and tactical driving and was an examiner of vehicle and driver licenses.
“I was employed at SAPS in the colleges space ... I was trained by SAPS to be instructors in the space of advanced driving and tactical driving ... I did my two diplomas of examiner of vehicle and examiner of driver's licence ... From 2006, coming up. I left SAPS.”
Mr. Shongwe left SAPS because of an allegation that instructors not employed under the Police Act could not train SAPS members, despite being offered later ranks.
“there was an allegation that we cannot train SAPS members under the Police Act while we are not employed under the Police Act ... we were then offered later ranks but at that time I decided to leave...”
General Mkhwanazi cleared General Khan in the Aeroton drugs saga and deemed him a hero, a finding Mr. Shongwe disagrees with.
“General Mkhwanazi clears General Khan and deems him a hero, which I still disagree with...”
There are alleged cover-ups relating to the murders of a make-up artist and a medical doctor, as well as cigarette smuggling cases, which Mr. Shongwe has cited as reasons for investigating General Khan.
“The alleged cover-up relating to the murder of the make-up artist ... the alleged cover-up relating to the murder of medical doctor ... the alleged cover-up of matters pertaining to cigarette smuggling cases.”
Drugs worth 300 million were stolen and lost, with a case involving a police officer withdrawn.
“drugs worth 300 million gets stolen and lost. A case alleges that a person who is a police officer is involved in that case, and the case gets withdrawn.”
A facial makeup artist was allegedly shot dead and covered up by a policeman as claimed by her boyfriend.
“A facial makeup artist is shot dead, alleged by her boyfriend, and a policeman covers up the story.”
Cigarette smugglers and sellers are allegedly covered up by the same police officer.
“It is also alleged that cigarette smugglers and cigarette sellers and all that gets covered up by the same police officer.”
A doctor was allegedly assassinated after operating on a patient, and the allegation involves interference by a father who lost his son.
“A father loses his son in hospital when a doctor was operating on that son. It is alleged that father goes and says to his friends he has shot the doctor because he lost his son through the hands of the doctor.”
The allegations relate to the Aeroton drugs saga, a cover-up of the murder of a makeup artist and a medical doctor, and cover-ups relating to cigarette smuggling.
“These are the questions that you are posing to Mr O'Sullivan. It relates to the Aeroton drugs saga. It relates to this alleged cover-up of a murder of a make-up artist, alleged cover-up of the murder of a medical doctor, and cover-up of matters relating to cigarette smuggling.”
A police officer named Feroz Khan owns multiple franchises of lucrative businesses and remains in a leadership role despite allegations and lack of investigation.
“This police officer owns multiple franchises of businesses, lucrative businesses. This person remains in the leadership ... Feroz Khan. We cannot even get the name here in Parliament to get that person to come here and answer. Apparently, he is being covered up and protected, even by us.”
There is an allegation that Feroz Khan is protected and covered up by authorities, including the Parliament.
“Apparently, he is being covered up and protected, even by us. Now they say we are protecting him. We cannot get him here.”
Feroz Khan was not investigated, while Phahlane was targeted without evidence.
“Why did you not investigate Feroz Khan, but you went for Phahlane, whom you do not have a single evidence of what he has done.”
The witness picked up the allegations from media reports, not from original evidence.
“The concerns arose because of what you were reading in the media. That is where you picked these things up.”
A news report described a makeup artist and influencer, 39, found dead in her bedroom under mysterious circumstances.
“There is a news report headed make-up artist and influencer, 39, found dead in her bedroom under mysterious circumstances and there is a picture of the person.”
There are many allegations about the political and business relationship between Mohamed Sayed and General Khan, frequently discussed on social media.
“What got my attention to that story is that the relationship, politically and business-wise, there is a lot of allegations. If you may read most of the stories that you get on social media about Sayed, you will never pass there without getting a name of Khan in the comments. ... The fact that at that time when I mentioned it there, I did not have much knowledge of it exactly, very intensively. But I later learned a lot of things ... The cigarette issue is true.”
Cigarette smuggling involves an alleged General Khan linked to the EFF, with allegations around political and business relationships with Mohamed Sayed.
“It is the relationship between the alleged General Khan pertaining from the EFF ... and the guy called Sayed. So that story is all over most of the time when we speak in the corridors.”
Mohamed Sayed in the article is the director of Carnilinx.
“This Mohamed Sayed in this article is the Mohamed Sayed who is the director of Carnilinx.”
An article alleges that Mohamed Sayed ordered the hit on a doctor who was assassinated.
“The article ... refers to the allegations that it was a certain Mohamed Sayed who had ordered the hit.”
The witness was prompted by the Ad Hoc Committee not to summon General Khan, with political shielding of President Ramaphosa by the ANC and reluctance to summon General Khan despite serious allegations.
“Certain members of the Ad Hoc Committee did not see the necessity of summoning General Khan for questioning ... In the case of President Ramaphosa, I understood from the political standpoint that he would be likely be shielded by ... ANC. However, with respect to General Khan, I could not understand the reluctance to call him before the committee, particularly the weight and seriousness of allegations that had been formulated and tabled against him.”
General Khan is alleged to be a multi-millionaire businessman who remains employed in a sensitive intelligence position within SAPS.
“General Khan is a multi-millionaire and a businessman of considerable means, yet he seeks to remain in employment within the SAPS, specifically within the intelligence division.”
General Khan did not appear before the committee because he was not called, not because he refused.
“He did not appear, but it is because he was not called.”
The witness's investigative objective was to establish the truth regarding allegations against General Khan but was unable to conclude due to his failure to appear before the committee.
“My primary objective was to establish the truth regarding the allegations levelled against General Khan. However, due to the failure to appear before the Committee, I was regretably unable to arrive to the conclusion, determination of the facts, and the truth in this matter. It therefore remains unestablished.”
Some committee members, including the EFF, sided with Honourable Malema to not allow General Khan to be called.
“On that day, Honourable Malema was the most vocal in not getting General Khan to come there. But the other parties sided with him, with the EFF, not with him as to say, with EFF, not allowing us to get Khan to come there.”
Mrs. Hongwe Mp received a call from the PA of the former President, from a person named Londiwe Xulu.
“I received a call from the PA of the President, former President ... her name is Londiwe Xulu”
Mrs. Hongwe Mp explained she was called to meet in Durban on 8 March 2026 by request through Londiwe Xulu, though it was not a direct call from Major General Khan.
“it was not a direct call between you and Major General Khan ... I received a call from PA ... Londiwe called me to come ... meeting on 8 March 2026 ... call was made by usisi Londiwe to me”
The meeting on 8 March 2026 was requested by two gentlemen, Yusuf Kajee and Imran (surname unknown), who wanted to see Mrs. Hongwe Mp.
“there is two gentlemen that came ... they requested to see me ... Yusuf Kajee and Imran ...”
Mrs. Hongwe Mp received WhatsApp conversations from Londiwe Xulu with Yusuf Kajee and Imran, starting 6 March 2026 relating to arranging the meeting.
“She annexed WhatsApp conversations between her and the two individuals ... starts on the 6th of March ... conversation between her and Mr Yusuf Kajee”
Mrs. Hongwe Mp said she was delayed arriving to the meeting place and landed later than the expected time.
“I think that is the time I was given that I would be landing, but I did not land at that time. I landed far later than that ... I was delayed”
Mrs. Hongwe Mp confirmed the meeting took place at DRK Tactical, 207 Montpelier Road, and that the location corresponds with her GPS and photos from Google.
“I had the meeting here ... it gives me exactly this address ... pictures on Google ... exactly the house I was at”
Mrs Shongwe was informed by Ms Londiwe that two individuals were present requesting to see the President and specifically asked to meet with her.
“I then had a conversation with Ms Londiwe, who informed me that two individuals were present requesting to see the President and had specifically asked to meet with me.”
Mrs Shongwe stated Ms Londiwe knew the individuals but did not know the reason for their visit or why they wanted to meet her in particular.
“She indicated that she was aware of their identities, but not the purpose of their visit.”
Ms Londiwe usually only arranges meetings and is not part of the meetings when people request to see Mrs Shongwe with President Zuma's permission.
“in most cases, she only arranges meetings and she is never part of the meeting.”
People would request to see Mrs Shongwe through President Zuma, meaning she could not refuse because the President had already given permission.
“They would then tell her that we need to see Baba (the father) to give us permission to see Shongwe. Remember with President Zuma, it is a free way. Everybody is welcome. So people usually would go there so that even if I want to say no, I cannot say no because they already asked the President.”
Mrs Shongwe had never met the individuals who requested the meeting before.
“No, never.”
The meeting took place at 207 Montpelier Road, Morningside, Durban at the DRK Tactical premises, which are their offices.
“The meeting took place at 207 Montpelier Road, Morningside, Durban, 001 at the DRK Tactical premises, which is their offices.”
The meeting was from 13:13 to 13:53 according to vehicle tracker timing evidence.
“It is 13:13 and I was there until 13:53. That is when I arrived there.”
DRK Tactical is a security company with additional functions beyond security, as indicated by the presence of security-marked cars but office signage saying only 'tactical'.
“It is a security company, yes. But I think there is a whole lot more of what they do there. Because when you get there, you see more security related stuff. Like the cars that were out there were security cars written in security markings, but the office does not have anything that says security. It says tactical only.”
Mrs Shongwe was escorted into the DRK Tactical premises by a single security officer inside the yard and then met a man named Imran who greeted her as 'my brother'.
“When we got there at the gate, there was one security guy who was inside, wearing a big dark clothes, bluish kind of. And that is the guy that opened for us. ... A gentleman with glasses, tiny in body, short, flat beard, came, wearing glasses, came smiling and introduced himself to me, greeting and introduced himself as Imran as I exited my car. He said his name is Imran. Then I also told him my name. Then he was like, oh, I know you. I know you, my brother.”
Mrs Shongwe and Ms Londiwe were escorted into the DRK Tactical premises, passed the reception desk with DRK signage, and taken to a narrow and long boardroom where Imran offered them seats.
“We were escorted into the premises. And as we entered, we passed at the reception desk, bearing the signage that read DRK. ... We were escorted into the left of that receptionist, where then next room is their boardroom. And then we got there. Imran, he offers us a seat. ... The table might be from this corner, maybe to the end there. It is very long, but the width of it, it is not that much. It is maybe like 1.5 or so.”
Another man named Yusuf Kajee arrived later wearing Indian clothing, introduced himself to Mrs Shongwe and was laughed at regarding the surname 'Kajee' which was identified as a Zulu name starting with K.
“This person subsequently introduced himself to me as Yusuf Kajee. ... I recall I laughed at him ... Kajee, is this a Zulu surname? Because if it is a K, it is a Zulu. If it is C, it is English. And then we laughed about that matter, but he said, no, I am Kajee.”
Prior to the meeting, Mrs Shongwe speculated the meeting was requested because the individuals wished to assist the MK organisation in some way, but she did not receive invitations except through MK channels and was surprised by the request to meet personally.
“Prior to the meeting, my speculation was that the meeting had been requested because they wish to assist the organisation in some way. However, in the course of our conversation ... I only get relations or requests of invites through or for the reason of MK. I hardly get invites just for, I am Shongwe. I think Shongwe is not a person they want ...”
Mr S Hongwemp states that Yusuf informed him that General Khan wished to speak to him telephonically, but Hongwemp refused to take the call.
“Yusuf stated that someone wished to speak to me without explaining further and he insisted on calling this person to speak to me telephonically. I asked who is this person was. They then disclosed the name of this individual as General Khan. I refused and I informed them that I did not wish to take the call.”
During the interaction, Yusuf called General Khan on the phone despite Hongwemp's refusal to take the call, which was answered as a video call by General Khan.
“During this interaction, Yusuf moved his chair closer to mine and proceeded to call this person. As the phone was already ringing in, the call was answered and it was General Khan. ... And it was then when I saw this face that I know this face on pictures. ... It was a video call.”
Hongwemp explicitly states that he did not agree to have the conversation with General Khan and told Yusuf not to call him.
“No, I did tell him that I do not want. ... While he was calling, I am telling him, no, no, do not call. We can either make other ways and talk if there is a way, but I do not want a phone call. And I tell him that I do not like phone calls.”
Yusuf reassured Hongwemp that they would help with the phones and track any phone calls, promising assistance if he were scared of phone calls.
“He then explains to me, do not worry, brother, we will help you with the phones. If you are scared of phone calls and anything, do not worry. We will help with your phone. Your phone will be tracking someone, you are making a phone call. All this nonsense.”
General Khan spoke to Hongwemp during the video call, repeatedly questioning why Hongwemp was doing what he was doing to him, seeming emotionally distressed.
“He has the phone in his hand, and then Khan speaks. At the time when Khan speaks, he starts saying, brother, what are you doing? Why are you doing this to me? The conversation was in that line. Why are you doing this to me? And what did I do to you? ... He then touches his neck, you are suffocating me. And his eyes are now turning red. If I may say, he was crying.”
Mr Hongwemp questioned why Paul O'Sullivan and Sarah-Jane Trent focused investigations on General Phahlane rather than General Khan, despite many allegations against Khan.
“I was probing that when it comes to General Phahlane, they already had proof of the sound system. And he answered, u Paul O’Sullivan, he loves South Africa, that is why he is investigating. So that is why I asked him, as a lover of South Africa, how do you then generate who you want to target, where you see the allegations of General Khan are so many, but you focus on Phahlane? That is the issue.”
Hongwemp was experiencing fear for his life due to the situation with General Khan, having received warnings from people on the street advising him to be careful.
“I got so many of those in a way that I started to take note that okay now I have put my life in danger with this thing. But the day this happened, it was when I asked u Baba (Mr) Paul O’Sullivan.”
Mrs. Hongwe describes a situation where she was forced to think quickly and keep calm because she arrived without bodyguards or weapons, amidst a growing crowd.
“the situation was very fast... I will not lie about it... I came there without bodyguards, without any weapons... someone has to make sure that I do not allow this to escalate...”
Yusuf Kajee and Mrs. Hongwe had a conversation where Kajee said he knew her targets, including Mkhwanazi, and invited Mrs. Hongwe to meet in Sandton the following week on a Friday.
“General Khan who said you must meet at this place in Sandton the following week... Friday...”
General Khan invited Mrs. Hongwe to meet at his place in Sandton, promising to look after her and offering 10 million in cash and a security tender worth 2.2 million monthly, along with three bulletproof BMW cars for protection.
“what do you want? We can look after you... 10 bar in cash... security tender at Checkers worth 2.2 million every month... three BMW cars... bulletproof... protection”
Mrs. Hongwe refused to accept General Khan's offer to give her a security tender and cash, stating she does not operate that way.
“I replied that I do not operate in that manner... no, no, I do not operate like that”
General Khan promised three bulletproof tinted BMW cars parked in the yard next to Mrs. Hongwe's bakkie to provide protection.
“there were three BMW cars that were window tinted and bullet proof... he then promised me... protection”
General Khan shifted tone and indicated calm and that he would give protection, but Mrs. Hongwe wanted to leave and refuse further discussion.
“I just noticed the change of tone and the character of the body... now I think they feel calm... I wanted to leave... no, no, sit down... I want to tell you something”
During the meeting, Yusuf Kajee mentioned having information on General Mkhwanaazi and helicopters, which Mrs. Hongwe was not interested in hearing.
“My brother upstairs has information... about General Mkhwanaazi... helicopters and a lot of stuff that I was not interested in listening”
Yusuf Kajee indicated that the person Mrs. Hongwe was really investigating was General Mkhwanaazi, not General Khan.
“I see you do not want General Khan, you want Mkhwanaazi”
Mrs. Hongwe was pursued to give information about General Mkhwanazi but she was sceptical as she never spoke about him and doubted where the information came from.
“he was trying to pursue me to the ngo after General Mkhwanazi with what he was going to give me. So I was very, very sceptical and even probing further of those information that he wants to give me, because at no stage we spoke, I spoke about General Mkhwanazi.”
A muscular man agreed to give information about a helicopter in a USB on Friday in Sandton but spoke very fast and unclearly, making it hard to list details.
“He only agreed that I have one and that he would package it in a USB for me and then give it to me on Friday. But this one, because of I was tired of listening to him, to be honest. I cannot recall exactly the words he was saying, but he was speaking again fast and very, a lot of things that I could not even listen to.”
Meeting planned to include Imran, Yusuf, and General Khan to discuss helicopter information in Sandton.
“The idea of the meeting was going to meet, I was supposed to meet Imran, Yusuf and Khan. That is how the meeting was going to be on that Friday, had I went to that meeting.”
Yusuf requested Mrs. Hongwe's contact details, which she refused, suspecting they might manipulate the location reflected on her phone and attempted to make her phone un-hackable.
“Yusuf requested my contact details, which I refused to provide. He was persistent, stating that they could change the location reflected on my phone. I declined this offer. It may also be important to note that my phone remained in the car throughout the meeting as I was apprehensive that it could be hacked.”
Yusuf promised to make Mrs. Hongwe's phone un-hackable and change phone location to countries like Brazil and Paris to prevent tracking.
“He ... said, no, if you are scared of us, we will not do anything. Actually, we will help you. We will make your phone un-hackable. When one tries to check it, it will reflect in Brazil, it will reflect in Paris, mention other countries while you are here in South Africa. That was the promise. He even mentioned that they would work on the SIM card in the phone if I give them my number, they would help me with that.”
Mrs. Hongwe felt that the meeting at the Ad Hoc was a plot to implicate her or control her to keep silent about probing Khan.
“that was my concern in this thing... this is a plot to get me to take cash or get myself implicated in whatever they want to implicate me or find a way to control me so that I can keep quiet in probing Khan.”
There were cameras in the boardroom and at the entrance door where Mrs. Hongwe entered for the meeting, suggesting monitoring of the meeting.
“when I sat down on my right hand side on the corner, there was a camera there on top. And on my left hand side again on the corner, there was a camera there on the corner. Including when we entered the gate, at that door there is a camera at the corner of the door. A very, very tiny camera, you might not see it if you are not looking. So those are things that I did take note of.”
Mrs. Hongwe felt the meeting offers were to implicate or control her to keep quiet.
“In many ways, I felt many things. Either implicate or find a way to control me.”
Mrs. Hongwe expressed concern over political influence and corruption in the justice system affecting credibility, and that politicians, police, and the public need to change the culture to improve South Africa.
“politicians have now a bad reputation because of such things. So I am one of those people who are trying to resuscitate our name and our credibility... when you go out, it is a standard norm that when somebody is arrested, they will tell you ... we will speak to the police, give them something...no, if you are going to court, do not worry, bring something, we will speak to the prosecutor or I know the judge...so it is those things that are standard in our cities and in our communities that this is a character, that politicians are like this, police are like this, and we need to change that so that we have a better South Africa.”
Mrs. Hongwe denies taking the 10 million offered and states she would have given it to charity and reported it to Ad Hoc as evidence of corruption.
“I was going to take that 10 million, go home with the 10 million, look for charities, look for the hobos in the street, give them money, and get to Ad Hoc and tell them that I took 10 million given by these people... But unfortunately, they had no money...”
Imran promised to give chocolates on Friday when they meet, but the meeting did not happen and no chocolates were given.
“Before I entered the vehicle, Imran said, I do not have anything now, but I will give you your chocolates on Friday when we meet.”
Mrs Hongwemp never met with Imran or Mr Kajee after the promised meeting on Friday, and dropped calls from them.
“I never. I never. I made sure that calls that I do not understand, I drop immediately.”
Mrs Hongwemp indicates that a call was placed on speakerphone on or about 10 March 2026 connecting Imran and YusuKajee to her, where she indicated disinterest in further meetings.
“On or about 10 March 2026, I met with Mr Imran and Mr Yusuf Kajee, and telephonically connected them to Mr Shongwe. Their call was placed on speaker phone. Mr Shongwe indicated that he was occupied with work commitments. It was apparent to me that he was not interested in pursuing any further meeting.”
Mrs Hongwemp has no clear recollection of the 10 March 2026 call and possibly dropped it due to being busy with Ad Hoc work; she did not consent to engage further in the call.
“I do not have a clear recollection of yona lento le (this thing)... if I am busy maybe with Ad Hoc I will pick up and say, hey I am busy, I will call you... I am not agreeing to it, but I do not remember it only.”
Mrs Hongwemp never spoke again to those men after the call and might have missed parts of the call due to being busy at work.
“One thing I know for sure, I have never spoken to those guys ever again... I might have missed that if it happened like that... I might have said to her, I am not available, I am committed, I am busy at work.”
Mrs Hongwemp met President Zuma and Duduzane Zuma the day after the meeting and recounted to them what had transpired, where President Zuma expressed surprise because the meeting's reason was not disclosed to him upfront.
“The following day I met with President Zuma and Mr Duduzane Zuma and recounted to them what had transpired in the meeting as previously explained. President Zuma expressed surprise that this was the reason the meeting had been requested, as this had not been disclosed to him upfront.”
Mrs Hongwemp reported the meeting to her principals, President Zuma as party president and elder, and Duduzane Zuma as a member of the Presidential Task Team (PTT).
“I went to my principals. President Zuma is my President in the party and my elder... And then, Duduzane Zuma is the member of the PTT, which is Presidential Task Team.”
President Zuma and Duduzane Zuma appeared unfamiliar with General Kahn and the two men (Imran and Mr Kajee), and President Zuma gave permission to 'bring it out' or reveal the issue after Mrs Hongwemp explained the matter to them.
“The President does not know General Kahn. He met that guy once... even Duduzane confirmed it... when we spoke about these two guys, he said oh those cigarette guys... meaning those guys, those cigarette guys, oh they came here wanting to see you, so what was wrong with that?... So then told the President I was called for such a thing... This is when the President tells me, no, no, no, do the right thing, you know your job, go do your thing, take this thing out. So I got the blessing... from my seniors.”
Mrs Hongwemp did not report the matter to the Ad Hoc Committee but spoke about it during questioning of General Masemola.
“I did not, I would not use the word report it. But when I went to the committee on that day, I spoke about it when I was questioning General Masemola.”
Mrs. Shongwe was called to Durban by certain people who took her to a security company office near Cubana and questioned her about what was wrong and why she was being targeted.
“Guess what happened? I got a call to come to Durban, somebody wants to see me... They took me to a security company office, actually, they asked me, they invited me to that office in Morningside, not far from Cubana. When I entered, they spoke to me and said to me, Shongwe, what is wrong, what did we do to you?”
During that meeting in Durban, Mrs. Shongwe was shown a security house with cameras and was told not to engage with others as someone wanted to speak to her via a video call from a person identified as General Khan.
“That house has cameras outside and inside, General, as we are speaking, obviously they make promises we will look after you, do not do this, why speak to this guy, there is somebody who wants to speak to you... On the video call is a person I do not know... but I am told this is General Khan now.”
Allegations were made that General Khan covered up murder cases including that of Maja Janeska, a makeup artist who was shot in the head, and Dr. Abdullah Monshi, killed in a road rage incident where suspicion falls on the son of the victim's father who allegedly killed Dr. Monshi for revenge and was protected by General Khan.
“There is a family of Maja Janeska who died, a makeup artist who was shot in the head. The family say, this case... is that General Khan covered for these murder cases. The second family is the family of Dr Abdullah Monshi, who was killed in an alleged road rage incident... It is the one claiming that he killed that doctor for revenge and again General Khan's name comes out there and it is said to me that he is the one who is the protector.”
General Khan allegedly avoids appearing before the Ad Hoc Committee to clarify his name despite accusations against him, instead inviting Mrs. Shongwe to an office to discuss.
“If General Khan is as true as he says, why is he not applying to come here and clarify his name? But instead, he opts to call me and invite me into an office.”
Mrs. Shongwe met Imran and Aseef Kajee in Durban, who claimed to have a cigarette factory in Pietermaritzburg and referenced help given to then former SG Floyd Shivambo at the factory.
“When you got there, you met these people who have a factory of cigarettes in Pietermaritzburg. Who are you talking about? I amran and Aseef Kajee... They have a cigarette factory? It is what they told me... They say your former SG, referring to Floyd Shivambo, when he came to the factory, we always helped him, we gave him something, do not worry.”
Mrs. Shongwe expressed that the assistance expected from the Ad Hoc Committee in investigating matters like the alleged cigarette factory and drugs issue is very limited and poor.
“The level of assistance we are supposed to get or I think we should be getting in the Ad Hoc Committee, is zero. Because this matter, it is only here that I am speaking about this matter.”
Mrs. Shongwe was hijacked and kidnapped by two people while visiting one of her pastors, and the police classified the case as kidnapping and hijacking but she did not report it at the time to pursue her work and questioning of Cat Matlala.
“When his daughter was opening the gate, I got hijacked and my car, I was taken into the car at the back, and we drove off with those two people, with the daughter as well. Fast forward, the case is opened. The case is opened as kidnapping and hijacking. Now, I asked the police, why do you specify it like that? I did not report it. I went to work, I went to the police station. After I was done...”
Mrs. Shongwe wished to question Cat Matlala about suspicions regarding drugs being stored at Pretoria West College rather than being transported to a lab as reported, linking it to a syndicate she calls the Indian Cabal, allegedly connected with General Khan and Cat Matlala.
“I wanted to ask him is this the reason he got residence for his business in Pretoria West, so that these drugs, if they were brought to Pretoria West, nobody will think the drugs of Cat Matlala are in the police college. If the drugs were in college, that means the syndicate, which I call the Indian Cabal, which I am still checking the IDAC people, Khan would have been able to work with Cat Matlala to get the drugs stored in the police...”
Mrs. Hongwe P states that she was never asked about the matter related to Cat Matlala and drugs during the Ad Hoc Committee discussions, and she saw the incident on TV before informing her family.
“even that matter , I was never asked ... I saw it on the news on Friday , then I informed my family . But in the Ad Hoc , we have never spoken about this”
Mrs. Hongwe P confirms that no further enquiries were made from the Ad Hoc Committee's side regarding the matter involving Cat Matlala and drugs.
“that whole story that you just gave us now about Cat Matlala and the drugs and so on , is a way of you saying that there were no further enquiries .”
Mrs. Hongwe P states that General Masemola, the National Commissioner of Police at the time and witness before the Ad Hoc Committee, did not follow up or make any enquiries about the call made to her including an offer from General Khan.
“the person you were talking to at that point was General Masemola ... he is the National Commissioner of Police ... Did he follow up and make any enquiries about this call that was made to you with this offer from General Khan ? ... It is only the Madlanga Commission that has spoken to me about this matter, apart from my political party ... I did not even see a need to open a case or do anything further ...”
Mrs. Hongwe P asserts that the Madlanga Commission is the only body that has spoken to her about the matter regarding the call and offer from General Khan, and that she deemed mentioning it in the Ad Hoc Committee sufficient, feeling protected by laws and the committee.
“It is only the Madlanga Commission that has spoken to me about this matter , apart from my political party . And in my thinking , I think mentioning it there in the Ad Hoc , for me it was enough . I did not even see a need to open a case or do anything further because that space , I think it is a protected space . We are governed by certain laws there . We are protected by certain laws .”
Mrs. Hongwe P concludes that Mr. Kajee and Mr. Imran never reached out to her regarding the matter discussed and clarifies there is a different version in Ms. Londiwe's statement.
“they never reached out to you , meaning Mr Kajee and Mr Imran ... and then you have clarified there is a different version that is provided in Ms Londiwe's statement”
Mrs. Hongwe P expresses cautious optimism about the Madlanga Commission's work and hopes for meaningful crime fighting in South Africa, contrasting it with earlier commissions like the Zondo Commission.
“I appreciate the level of the Madlanga Commission work ... I was seeing a Zondo Commission 2 ... it was not going where we wanted to ... But when we as the MKP members in the Ad Hoc changed the notch , people in South Africa focused so , so much in the Ad Hoc until something changed here . ... I appreciate you guys for being fair and honest ... The South Africans are seeing that exactly as I see it ... I hope we work together in fighting this crime in South Africa ...”