Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale has denied claims that his office pressured police to arrest celebrity blogger Musa Khawula after the blogger allegedly insulted ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and businessman Ze Nxumalo.
At the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, a witness known as Witness F testified that senior police officials told him they were acting under pressure from Mathale’s office when a warrant of arrest for Khawula was pursued.
The arrest followed a series of social media posts by Khawula that were alleged to be defamatory and contravening the Cybercrime Act and crimen injuria.
Witness F said the warrant was shared with private contacts to help locate Khawula.
Mathale strongly rejected the claims in his testimony, saying he never pressured police or discussed the Khawula arrest with senior officers.
He said he was not aware of any such discussions or actions originating from his office.
The matter is part of the broader hearings at the Madlanga Commission, which is examining allegations of political interference and corruption within the criminal justice system. Investigations into the arrest and the testimony continue.
