New revelations from documents presented to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry have sparked fresh controversy around Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters. These disclosures suggest that sensitive police information related to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal may have been accessed improperly. According to the documents, a senior Crime Intelligence official, Major-General Feroz Khan, is alleged to have provided this confidential information.
The evidence includes an affidavit and a large collection of WhatsApp messages totaling 578 pages, which were submitted to the commission. The messages reveal that Mohamed Sayed, a businessman and senior executive at Carnilinx Tobacco Company, acted as an intermediary connecting Malema and Khan in several conversations dating back to 2021.
One of the key claims is that on June 15, 2021, Sayed forwarded a request from Malema—referred to as “Juju”—seeking details about a complainant involved in a Sandton case. In the messages, Sayed allegedly added “Juju bru” when passing on the request to Khan. The investigators allege that Khan responded by sending a system extract from SAPS that contained sensitive information about the complainant, identified as Anoosh Rooplal, who was appointed as the curator overseeing VBS Mutual Bank’s affairs. This extract reportedly included Rooplal’s name and residential address.
These allegations are part of evidence outlined in Annexure TN21 and were presented by investigator Tshepo Nyatlo. The evidence suggests that restricted police information was repeatedly disclosed through Sayed. Further messages indicate that Sayed asked whether certain details could be forwarded “to Juju,” implying Malema’s direct involvement.
The documents also show discussions about SAPS tenders involving a company called Bertobrite, and include a voice note reportedly sent by Malema, saying, “Your things are coming along very, very nicely … it’s going to happen for sure.” Another message allegedly shows Malema encouraging Khan during disciplinary proceedings, telling him, “You will not ever resign … we will emerge victorious.”
These allegations are especially sensitive given the background of the VBS Mutual Bank scandal, one of South Africa’s biggest financial collapses. In July 2024, former VBS chairman Tshifhiwa Matodzi, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty, claimed in an affidavit that bribes disguised as donations had been paid to Malema and Floyd Shivambu, a former deputy president of the EFF, in exchange for political protection.
Malema and the EFF have denied any involvement in wrongdoing. Previous investigations into VBS have not produced conclusive evidence, and the current allegations from the Madlanga Commission documents have not yet been tested in court. No formal charges or adverse findings have been made against Malema or any others connected to these claims. The situation continues to develop as the inquiry proceeds, raising questions about the extent of political influence and the handling of sensitive police information in South Africa.
