{
  "id": 5100224,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T14:19:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/hawks-lebeya-big-five-cartel-madlanga-commission/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Hawks national head Godfrey Lebeya faced intense questioning at the Madlanga commission as he denied knowing several prominent figures allegedly linked to the so-called “Big Five” cartel. The commission, chaired by Brigitte Mabandla, heard that Lebeya received a phone call from Malcolm X on 6 December 2024, the same day the political killings task team arrested Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe at his Sandhurst home in connection with the murder of engineer Armand Swart. Lebeya admitted to speaking with Malcolm X but denied the suggestion that Hawks officers were dispatched to Molefe's property to undermine the PKTT operation. He also testified that he did not know Molefe or Malcolm X personally and had only encountered their names through media reports. Lebeya further denied knowing Jothan ‘King Mswazi’ Msibi, Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe, Steve Motsumi, Ignatius Mothakati, Jabu “King Nyambose” Mthethwa, and Ze Nxumalo, who were reportedly part of the alleged cartel involved in international drug trafficking, contract killings, and other organized criminal activities.",
  "summary": "Evidence leader said it is 'bizarre' that the former Hawks head did not know of prominent names that have been identified at the Madlanga commission",
  "key_points": [
    "Lebeya denies knowing Big Five cartel figures",
    "Received phone call from Malcolm X on 6 December 2024",
    "Refutes Hawks officers were dispatched to Molefe's property"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-09-02T13:52:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}