Samuel Mashaba faced questions at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Friday about whether a 2019 message referred to the late deputy president David Mabuza.
Gauteng traffic official Samuel Mashaba continued his testimony for a third day on 12 June 2026. He was initially called to discuss a R286-million cocaine interception in Aeroton on 9 July 2021 but faced intense scrutiny over WhatsApp messages.
One message from 29 May 2019 stated: “I see DD is back, let’s move on our issues.” Mashaba maintained that “DD” referred to Kebby Maphatsoe but accepted the commission’s suggestion that it pointed to Mabuza, who was sworn in as a member of Parliament the day before the message.
Commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga told Mashaba during the session: “You are being untruthful.” Mashaba also discussed other messages linking him to businessman Tumelo Nku and Gauteng MEC Faith Mazibuko.
The four individuals arrested in the cocaine case included Mashaba, Nku, and two police officers. The original court case was withdrawn, though investigations have since been revived.
