Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, a Gauteng Organised Crime Unit officer, is facing criticism for sharing a police document about chrome theft suspects.
Image: IOL / Kamogelo Moichela
Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, an officer with the Gauteng Organised Crime Unit, has come under fire for sharing a police document detailing suspects allegedly involved in chrome theft in Mooinooi, North West Province, with businessman and taxi boss Steve Motsumi before the suspects' court appearance.
This occurred on Tuesday during his testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria, where his series of WhatsApp chats with Motsumi were scrutinised.
He has been accused of being untruthful regarding his reasons for frequently sharing confidential police information with civilians, particularly Motsumi.
His testimony revealed that he shared a classified police document with Motsumi on May 27, 2025, concerning alleged chrome thieves before their court appearance on May 29, 2025.
The document in question stated that police were still tracking the potential buyer of the chrome.
Co-commissioner Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC noted that the document identifies suspects and highlighted that Nkosi shared it with Motsumi on May 27, just two days before the suspects' scheduled court appearance in the Brits Magistrate's Court.
He criticised Nkosi's earlier justification that he shared the document because it was already in the public domain.
"You cannot be correct when you say it was already in the public domain because the public would not be notified of these suspects and their identities before they appear in court," Khumalo said.
Co-commissioner Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC took Nkosi to task for disseminating a document showing the complainant's name and address.
"It (the document) tells Mr Motsumi who the complainant is, it gives him the address, and cellphone number of the complainant.
"It also has details of a witness, the name of the witness, and where the witness is. That's the information you share with a member of the public whose interest you have not clarified to us," Baloyi said.
The document listed stolen properties, which are a truckload of chrome, two pistols identified by serial numbers, ammunition rounds, and the cellphones taken along with their worth.
Baloyi said: "The document reveals names and dates of birth of suspects following their arrests. It tells you that some are Lesotho nationals and some are South Africans. It also says they are involved in case numbers, and it gives those case numbers."
The document further reveals that the investigation continues to track down the buyer and the stolen chrome.
Baloyi said: "You are telling a civilian that police are tracking the buyer and all the stolen goods have ended. You give information that is obviously internal information of the SAPS. The question is: Why would you give this information to Mr Motsumi?"
She pointed out that Nkosi has not been open about why he shared information with Motsumi. She criticised Nkosi's earlier answer that he shared information with Motsumi because of his interest in the crime happening in the country.
Nkosi: "I am sending this to Motsumi to praise the good work that the police have done because he is concerned that police are not working, people are not protected."
He also testified that he and Motsumi were both fans of KwaZulu-Natal SAPS Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, and would often share information about him if they thought it would concern him.
Nkosi's testimony continues.