The SAPS’s head of intelligence General Dumisani Khumalo has painted a detailed picture of what he believes to be the modus operandi of the so-called Big 5 cartel operates.
Khumalo relied on Whatsapp chats said to have been downloaded from the cellphone of suspected criminal mastermind Vusimuzi Cat Matlala and Brown Mogotsi who is regarded by the police as an influence peddler who acts as a link to between the cartel and top police officials as well as politicians.
Khumalo said the WhatsApp conversations between the members (of the cartel) show the cartel is involved in multiple organised crime activities, including drug trafficking, hijackings, tender fraud and contract killings with powerful politicians such as police minister Senzo Mchunu providing protection from investigations.
Khumalo alleged that some payments were used to cover expenses for events held by the African National Congress and delegates aligned to Mchunu.
Matlala is currently on trial for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend while Katiso KT Molefe another businessman also suspected of being a leader of the cartel is accused of orchestrating the murder of musician DJ Sumbody.
“It appears here Mr Mogotsi was communicating with Mr Matlala over a number of days and you’ll see as we go along the links to Minister Mchunu and other politicians in terms of the funding that has been provided to them by the cartel,” said Khumalo.
“Share a POP and the next message. The next message is forwarded again by Mr. Brown-Mukhosi to Kurt. Maybe this message we can read it together with the next one for better understanding.The two messages are sent more or less the same time, on the 26th of December, 2024, by Mr. Brown-Mukhosi to Vusimu Zelamini. The first one is… At 12.43. At 12.43. And you say that’s forwarded?
“Yes. The first one is a forwarded message which reads, Comrade Brown, which means someone forwarded that message or sent that message to Mr. Brown-Mukhosi, referring to him as Comrade Brown.The travel agency called in, please talk to them.
“Then Mr. Brown-Mukhosi is forwarding the same message to Vusimu Zelamini as sent to him.The next message now is not forwarded, it’s sent by Mr. Brown-Mukhosi after that forwarded message which reads, Chief of Staff,” said Khumalo in an exchange with the commissioners about texts he said linked Mchunu to the cartel.
“Our understanding of that is the indication by Mr. Brown-Mukhosi as who had originally sent that message to him. The very same message that he’s forwarding to Mr. Vusimu Zelamini, an indication that this message above is originally from the Chief of Staff,” said Khumalo.