PRETORIA, Gauteng – The tragic passing of senior police official Sindile Mfazi has been officially reclassified as a full-scale murder investigation following the discovery of a poisonous substance in his exhumed remains, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
SAPS National Spokesperson Athlenda Mathe provided a comprehensive update on the long-running probe, revealing that the case has formally transitioned from an inquest to a murder docket. Mfazi, who previously served as the Commissioner for Crime Detection and headed both the national detectives and crime intelligence divisions, originally died on July 8, 2021.
Because Mfazi had recently tested positive for the coronavirus during a severe national outbreak, his death was initially attributed to COVID-19 complications. However, the narrative changed dramatically when his family raised the alarm. His wife approached the then National Commissioner, General Khehla Sitole, presenting information indicating that her husband had been killed rather than succumbing to the virus.
Acting on these serious allegations, General Sitole mandated an independent directorate alongside the SAPS cold case unit to thoroughly examine the circumstances of the general’s passing. Consequently, Mfazi’s body was exhumed later that same month. Subsequent forensic and toxicological examinations confirmed the presence of a poisonous substance in his system, triggering the official shift to a murder investigation.
Addressing the significant time gap between the 2021 exhumation and the current murder probe, Mathe explained that investigators had to meticulously determine whether the toxic substance was ingested by accident or administered with deliberate lethal intent. After years of gathering intelligence, the investigative team is now confident they are dealing with a deliberate assassination.
This breakthrough has sparked intense operational activity. The national cold case unit, operating in close coordination with the Special Task Force, recently executed a series of Section 51 (J51) search and seizure warrants. The joint operation targeted four distinct locations: two office spaces and two residential properties.
During these raids, authorities confiscated various electronic devices intended to corroborate the substantial evidence accumulated since 2021. Mathe confirmed that investigators are currently questioning at least one person of interest. The probe encompasses a mix of high-profile figures and other individuals connected to the case.
When pressed for the identities of the suspects or the specific names of the raided corporate offices, Mathe declined to provide further details, emphasizing the extreme sensitivity and delicate nature of the ongoing operation. She noted that additional search warrants are still being executed and urged the public to allow the legal process to unfold without speculation.
While the official motive remains unconfirmed by police, the context of Mfazi’s work provides a compelling backdrop. At the time of his death, the decorated general was deeply entrenched in investigating systemic corruption and state capture within the SAPS headquarters in Pretoria. His portfolio included scrutinizing highly controversial contracts, most notably a R1.6 billion police PPE tender.
When journalists asked if the murder was a direct result of the rot he was uncovering within the police service, Mathe stated that the evidence will ultimately reveal why anyone would want the head of crime detection eliminated. She assured the public that the investigative team is on the right track and working diligently to ensure the matter is fully prepared for court, bringing eventual closure to the grieving family.