Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has strongly denied allegations that he requested or issued police dockets, describing testimony made before the Madlanga Commission of inquiry as “baffling and misleading.”
The claims emerged during proceedings, where suspended Sedibeng District Commissioner Brigadier Nkwashu reportedly suggested that the Premier had been involved in requesting sensitive police documents.
However, in a statement released on Friday, Lesufi rejected the allegations outright, maintaining that he has never interfered in police operations or requested case dockets from law enforcement authorities.
Lesufi explains that a letter from Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni clarifies that it was the commissioner, not the Premier, who requested the dockets in question. The correspondence further indicates that processes related to wanted suspects and J50 warrants fall under the jurisdiction of senior SAPS officials responsible for crime detection, working alongside crime intelligence structures.
Lesufi reiterated his respect for the independence of the South African Police Service, emphasising the constitutional principle of separation of powers between political leadership and law enforcement agencies.
“I respect the separation of powers and the operational independence of the police, any suggestion to the contrary undermines established governance protocols,” Lesufi said
The Gauteng Provincial Government also suggested that Brigadier Nkwashu may have confused internal SAPS directives issued between April and June 2025 with routine crime-prevention briefings provided to the Premier’s office.
These briefings, according to the statement, form part of broader collaborative safety initiatives such as the Eyes and Ears initiative, a programme launched in 2019 to strengthen coordination between police, private security, and business stakeholders in combating crime.
Lesufi has called on the brigadier to provide documented proof of any directive allegedly issued by the Premier, while reaffirming his support for the commission’s work.
“We will use the proper legal channels to correct any misleading or incorrect statements that are part of the official record. We also urge everyone to let the Commission finish its work, without giving in to any temptation to create sensationalism,” Lesufi said.
