{
  "id": 5097585,
  "title": "‘I have no knowledge’: Lebeya denies knowing Big Five Cartel | Madlanga Commission",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/i-have-no-knowledge-lebeya-denies-knowing-big-five-cartel-madlanga",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T13:52:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/news/politics/2026-09-02-i-have-no-knowledge-lebeya-denies-knowing-big-five-cartel-madlanga-commission/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Retired Hawks head Dr Godfrey Lebeya has denied knowledge of the alleged Big Five Cartel and its suspected members during testimony before the Madlanga Commission. Despite evidence pointing to prominent individuals like Jotham \"King Mswazi\" Msibi, Katiso \"KT\" Molefe, and others, Lebeya claimed he was unaware of the criminal activities associated with the group. The commission has presented photographs of people allegedly linked to the cartel, but Lebeya's testimony has been challenged by former senior police officials, who described some associates as \"dangerous.\" Lebeya also denied interfering with a Hawks operation targeting Molefe in 2024, stating he deployed officers to verify the arrest after receiving a call from a civilian named Malcom X.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "Image of ‘Big Five’ cartel figures revealed at Madlanga Commission",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/image-of-big-five-cartel-figures-revealed-at-madlanga-commission",
        "published": "2026-09-02T11:43:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "‘We don’t know all people in SA’: Ex-Hawks boss Lebeya denies knowing alleged ‘Big Five’ cartel figures",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/we-dont-know-all-people-in-sa-ex-hawks-boss-lebeya-denies-knowing",
        "published": "2026-09-02T14:19:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}