The Madlanga Commission heard on Monday that a Crime Intelligence officer discussed activating a counter against Daily Maverick journalist Marianne Thamm after her January 2021 article on alleged police corruption.
Evidence leader Advocate Adila Hassim SC presented WhatsApp messages from 17 January 2021. In them General Feroz Khan allegedly replied to a colleague that the journalist was a good friend of Peter Jacobs and Jeremy Vearey. The colleague responded that a counter needed to be activated on the journalist.
Thamm’s home in Cape Town was burgled on 13 March 2021. Two laptops, an iPad, and jewellery were taken. Police closed the case but Hassim said the sequence was alarming and warranted further investigation.
Hassim told the Commission that Crime Intelligence is not a mechanism for monitoring and intimidating journalists. She described the exchange as reflecting a danger that the unit could be used for factional or retaliatory purposes.
Khan remains in hospital after being shot last week and did not testify. His legal representative objected to the incremental disclosure of evidence.
