National Police Commissioner General Fannie Mkhwanazi has confirmed that alleged underworld figures Katiso Molefe and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala are believed to be connected to the notorious “Big Five” drug syndicate. However, the duo has not been formally charged with any drug-related offenses — at least not yet.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, General Mkhwanazi explained that while the two men are not currently facing narcotics charges, their arrests are part of a broader strategy aimed at dismantling the upper echelons of South Africa’s drug underworld.
“We might not arrest them for the drug specific,” Mkhwanazi said, “but the bigger investigation that talks about drugs is there.”
Both Molefe and Matlala were recently taken into custody on unrelated charges, which the commissioner described as a tactical move by law enforcement to disrupt criminal operations and buy investigators time to build stronger, more comprehensive cases.
“It’s a strategy we employ… to keep people behind bars until we are ready with a bigger case,” he added.
The “Big Five” is believed to be one of the country’s most influential and dangerous drug syndicates, with deep ties to international smuggling routes, local distribution networks, and violent enforcement arms. While authorities have long suspected Molefe and Matlala of being key players within the organization, efforts to prosecute them have so far been hampered by a lack of direct evidence linking them to drug trafficking activities.
Legal experts say the approach of using lesser charges to hold suspects while gathering evidence for more serious crimes is not uncommon, especially in complex organized crime investigations.
Still, the move has sparked debate about the balance between public safety and due process. Human rights advocates warn that preemptive arrests without formal charges can raise constitutional concerns.
Police say, however, that patience will pay off.
“We are dealing with sophisticated criminals,” Mkhwanazi said. “You don’t just walk in and catch them red-handed. It takes time, and we are doing it properly.”
As the investigation continues, Molefe and Matlala remain behind bars — but the charges they currently face remain sealed, with officials declining to comment further.