Mkhwanazi talks about Armand Swart’s assassination during inquiry

VEREENIGING - KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has taken the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry back to the assassination of Vereeniging engineer, Armand Swart. Swart, employed at Q Tech Engineering, was gunned down while sitting in his car outside his workplace in April last year. Mkhwanazi, the commission’s first witness, revealed that suspects arrested in connection with the case were linked to wider criminal syndicates. Forensic tests also tied their firearms to several high-profile murders. Among those arrested was Johannesburg police officer, Michael Pule Tau. Despite police opposition, Tau was granted bail, sparking concerns and threats against investigators and prosecutors. Mkhwanazi said the assassination was connected to whistleblowing on a Transnet contract worth millions. He added that the case exposed both organised crime and elements of police corruption. Due to interference, the investigating team was cut down, forcing him to deploy 10 members from the Political Killings Task Team.