Defence challenges credibility of officer in insurance killings case

The bail application of eight people accused in an insurance fraud-related killings case in Limpopo was adjourned to next Wednesday. Defence lawyers questioned the investigating officer's testimony at the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court.

Mashudu Kwinda, representing six of the accused, told the court that Captain Keshi Mabunda’s evidence should not be considered. He argued that Mabunda misled the court by claiming Robert Shokane did not hand himself over voluntarily and failed to pursue a promised manhunt date.

Kwinda also said Mabunda did not verify claims in William Shokane’s affidavit about farming activities and produce supplies to a local supermarket. The lawyer maintained there is no evidence the accused would evade trial if granted bail.

The eight accused are co-accused with Rachel Kutumela, Anna Shokane and Florah Shokane, who have been in custody since 2024 after their bail was denied. They face charges linked to the alleged killings of nine people over several years to claim life insurance payouts.

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KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi testifies against suspended deputy Sibiya at parliamentary ad hoc committee hearing.
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Mkhwanazi testifies against Sibiya as ad hoc committee wraps up

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KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi gave final testimony to Parliament's ad hoc committee on 18 March 2026, declaring no peace with suspended deputy Shadrack Sibiya and accusing him of ties to criminal elements. He also questioned the trustworthiness of Lieutenant General Hilda Senthumule over a docket transfer. The committee, probing national security concerns from Mkhwanazi's July 2025 claims, now drafts its report.

Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla and deputy police chief Julius Mkhwanazi appeared in Boksburg Magistrate’s Court seeking bail on charges of fraud, corruption and obstructing justice. The allegations stem from a 2019 impersonation scheme and a 2021 fatal accident cover-up. The state opposes bail, citing risks of interference.

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Captain Laurance Makgotloe, a forensic analyst at the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory, is set to apply for bail on Tuesday, 2 June, after being charged with defeating the ends of justice. He was arrested on 22 May over allegations of tampering with ballistic evidence in the April 2024 murder of engineer Armand Swart. The case stems from testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

On Monday prosecutors in the Western Cape High Court urged Judge Robert Henney to close Nafiz Modack’s defence case, citing repeated delays that they say amount to an abuse of process.

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