- Reports have surfaced that Samuel Mashaba, the Gauteng Traffic Police Chief Inspector, has sadly passed away
- The Gauteng Premier's office was alerted to Mashaba's death, but no confirmed cause of death has been released
- Mashaba had been a central figure before the Madlanga Commission, where he testified about a massive drug bust
Source: Twitter
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
GAUTENG — Samuel Mashaba, the Gauteng Traffic Police Chief Inspector who testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry earlier this year, has died.
Preliminary information shared on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 indicates that the Gauteng Premier's office was alerted to his passing that afternoon. No official cause of death has been confirmed.
Mashaba had been a central figure before the Madlanga Commission. He testified in June 2026 in relation to the July 2021 Aeroton cocaine bust, in which approximately 715.86 kg of cocaine with a street value estimated at between R286 million and R300 million was seized from a truck at a Scania warehouse south of Johannesburg.
The cargo had entered the country through Durban Harbour.
Mashaba's role in the 2021 Aeroton bust
During the operation, Mashaba, businessman Tumelo Nku, Warrant Officer Marumo Magane, and Warrant Officer Steve Phakula intercepted the truck. All four were arrested by the Hawks and charged with defeating the ends of justice and drug dealing. The National Prosecuting Authority later withdrew and closed the case.
The Madlanga Commission examined several serious allegations against Mashaba, including that he acted outside his mandate as a traffic officer by leading a high-level narcotics operation without referring intelligence to the South African Police Service or specialised units.
Evidence presented included WhatsApp messages suggesting a financial relationship between Mashaba and Nku that went beyond a standard informant-handler arrangement. Mashaba admitted to receiving money from Nku, describing it as borrowing or assistance from a friend, with figures cited in the range of up to approximately R50,000.
Following his June 2026 testimony, Mashaba was placed on precautionary suspension, pending a formal disciplinary process. Authorities cited concerns around the alleged misuse of official powers and state resources, as well as the acceptance of payments from a member of the public.
Madlanga Commission witness killed
Briefly News previously reported that a witness who testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry was shot dead.
The witness, who was known as Witness D, testified before the commission in November 2025 about Julius Mkhwanazi.
Witness D, later identified as Marius van der Merwe, alleged that Mkhwanazi asked him to dump a dead body.
Source: Briefly News