SAPS Ballistics expert Brig. Mishak Mkhabela has insisted that the initial ballistics report from the Pretoria forensic lab—compiled by Captain Itumeleng Makgotloe, which was central to the Armand Swart murder investigation was not tampered with.

He said the errors found in the report revealed a glaring mistake

Mkhabela told the Madlanga Commission on Monday that the omission of 15 AK-47 cartridges from the report was a “typing error” rather than evidence of interference.

The cartridges were found in the possession of murder suspect and former police officer Michael Tau, one of the men accused of killing Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart in April 2024.

“The omission was identified, investigated, and corrected. There was no manipulation of evidence,” Mkhabela testified.

He added that an internal probe had been launched once the error was discovered, and the amended report was subsequently filed.

The disputed ballistics report was first questioned by Witness A, who told the commission last week that critical evidence had been excluded from the Pretoria lab’s findings.

Mkhabela acknowledged the omission but rejected suggestions that investigators had attempted to conceal or distort evidence.

Despite his defence, Mkhabela conceded that he was unaware that the case dockets for the Swart murder and the related Bramley arrests had been transferred from his Pretoria office to a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) forensic lab for further analysis.

“I am asking the same question—why were these cases sent to KZN when Pretoria could have handled them,” he said.

Mkhabela presented a graphic to the commission linking firearms used in the murders of Swart, Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka, and Hector “DJ Vintos” Buthelezi to more than 20 other cases nationally.

Ballistic verification of these links, he noted, remained ongoing.

Earlier witnesses, including members of the investigating team, alleged that the Pretoria report had been tampered with.

Mkhabela rejected the claim, saying it was “unfair to suggest deliberate wrongdoing” when the problem was administrative.

He did, however, acknowledge serious resource challenges affecting SAPS forensic operations.

He said some of the delays in tackling cases were due to staff shortages.

He further revealed that the weapons and ammunition seized from suspects Tau and Musa Kekana were only uploaded to the Ballistics Information System (BIS) in September 2024—months after the Swart murder.

This was different from the initial one that was done in Pretoria last year. This is because the police believed that reports had been tampered with.

“There was not much urgency in registering the exhibits,” he said, attributing the delay to procedural inefficiencies.

The Madlanga Commission has adjourned for the day. SAPS ballistics expert, Mkhabela has concluded his testimony.

A new witness is expected to testify remotely on Tuesday but on camera.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

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