Investigations into South Africa's Big Five drug cartel have revealed links to the late Pretoria taxi boss Jothan 'Mswazi' Msibi, politicians, and private security firms. The cartel is accused of infiltrating law enforcement and operating across multiple provinces. Testimonies at the Madlanga Commission highlight Msibi's alleged role as a ruthless leader in drug trafficking.
Jothan Zanemvula Msibi, known as Mswazi, was a prominent figure in South Africa's taxi industry until his death from an undisclosed illness on 14 January 2024. Nearly 25 years earlier, in the early 2000s, Msibi had publicly condemned violence in the sector, stating, “We have failed to respect the most precious gift from God – life. We have murdered innocent people, and communities can no longer respect us.” However, recent testimonies portray him differently.
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and a parliamentary ad hoc committee are probing accusations that Msibi headed the Big Five drug trafficking cartel, which allegedly operates under an umbrella group called The Firm or The Farm. Headquartered in Gauteng, the cartel is said to function in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Eastern Cape—provinces with key seaports for drug movement. The scandal emerged in July 2025 when KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made public allegations of police infiltration.
At the commission, Witness A, a police investigator, testified that national organised crime head Major General Richard Shibiri attempted to deter a murder probe, warning of connections to “people that are very dangerous,” including Msibi, described as a “taxi owner and a ruthless someone in terms of killings.” Witness B alleged Msibi led The Firm. Msibi's funeral at his farm drew high-profile attendees like then-police minister Bheki Cele and EFF leader Julius Malema, with Cele noting “more guns than flowers” and helicopters among arrivals.
Msibi was the brother of Mandla Msibi, Mpumalanga ANC treasurer reinstated in July 2025 after a suspension. Two other Gauteng men, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and Katiso “KT” Molefe, face charges linked to the cartel. Matlala, who ran a security firm providing protection to Msibi, was denied bail on attempted murder and money laundering charges. Molefe, out on R400,000 bail, is accused in contract killings, including that of DJ Sumbody in 2022, possibly tied to a stolen R200-million cocaine consignment.
The Big Five name echoes a 1980s-1990s trafficking group with similar alleged state ties. Sources suggest current leaders may not be the syndicate's top figures, with possible foreign or political controllers unidentified. This case underscores broader crime patterns, including taxi violence and gang activities shifting to smaller ports.