South African police have launched a formal murder investigation into the death of Lt-Gen Sindile “Pitso” Mfazi, the deputy national commissioner for crime detection. Initially attributed to Covid-19 complications, the case was reopened after his widow, Lindelwa “Malindi” Mfazi, secured an exhumation and toxicology tests that confirmed the presence of a poisonous substance, according to police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe.
Evidence of a Targeted Life
Documents recovered from Mfazi’s office—specifically his personal diary and official SAPS pocketbook—reveal he was tracking multiple sensitive investigations before his death. On December 10, 2020, at 18:33, Mfazi recorded an “intel call” from an unregistered number warning of an active assassination plot. He noted that the caller, who claimed to be from the anti-gang unit, named senior police officers as being involved in the conspiracy.
His notes also detail a “lonely, multifront battle” against systemic state capture. In November 2020, Mfazi met with the office of the inspector-general of intelligence (OIGI) and noted a critical gap in financial records from the 2020/21 period. He subsequently recorded an instruction to compile a portfolio of evidence regarding the conduct of the divisional commissioner of crime intelligence.
Did You Know?
Although police investigators searched Mfazi’s house after his death, they overlooked the diary and pocketbook in his office, which provided the primary evidence later used to challenge the initial, official cause of death.
High-Stakes Probes and Institutional Conflict
According to a protected disclosure submitted to parliament in March 2026 by former intelligence analyst Philasande Dotyeni, Mfazi was investigating the fallout of the February 2020 burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm. The inquiry focused on allegations that crime intelligence funds and state resources were unlawfully diverted to run an off-book covert operation to track the thieves and contain the political fallout, bypassing standard police procedures.
Mfazi’s records also highlight an ongoing struggle with Forensic Data Analysts (FDA), a private consortium. Mfazi had led the state’s case in a legal battle, arguing that the systems had been using SAPS operational knowledge and public funds, meaning the intellectual property belonged to the state. The police service currently faces a liability of more than R1bn to the firm after losing a high court case.
As noted by Lizette Lancaster of the Institute of Security Studies, the vanishing of an inquest docket and the initial misclassification of death suggest an elaborate cover-up.
Status of the Murder Investigation
Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe confirmed that investigators have determined the poison was not accidentally ingested, shifting the focus to a criminal motive. While search-and-seizure warrants have been executed at various addresses, no arrests have been made as of the current status of the probe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the death of Lt-Gen Mfazi initially ruled as Covid-19?
The South African Police Service (SAPS) concluded at the time that Mfazi died from Covid-19 complications. His widow, Lindelwa Mfazi, disputed this finding and successfully campaigned for an exhumation and independent toxicology tests.
What did the toxicology tests reveal?
The tests conducted after the exhumation identified the presence of a poisonous substance. Police have since confirmed that the substance was not ingested accidentally, and the case is now being treated as a murder investigation.
What was Mfazi investigating regarding the Phala Phala farm burglary?
According to a parliamentary disclosure by Philasande Dotyeni, Mfazi was probing allegations that crime intelligence funds were unlawfully diverted to conduct an off-book covert operation to track the thieves and contain political fallout from the incident.
How can internal police corruption be effectively addressed when senior officials are allegedly involved in criminal activity?
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