Witness E reveals preventable circumstances surrounding Magaqa's murder at Madlanga Commission
Shocking testimony at the Madlanga Commission reveals that the murder of ANC Youth League secretary Sindiso Magaqa was preventable, as Witness E claims he was warned by the gunmen prior to the attack.
Image: Supplied
THE Madlanga Commission has heard that the killing of former ANC Youth League (ANCYL) secretary Sindiso Magaqa could have been averted.
This shocking revelation came from Witness E, who testified that the gunmen had informed him beforehand that they were hired to kill Magaqa but failed to explain why he did not take action.
During his testimony on Monday, Witness E asserted that he received this critical information directly from the shooters, emphasizing that it was “not hearsay.”
“The shooters are the ones that told me, we are being hired to kill Sindiso Magaqa,” he said
Despite portraying himself as a highly effective intelligence operative, Witness E admitted that he did not act on this information. He claimed to have a “100% success rate” in infiltrating drug cartels, stock-theft syndicates, and cash-in-transit gangs, adding that the suspects he previously identified were either jailed or dead.
Magaqa, aged 35 at the time, along with two fellow councillors, was shot on July 13, 2017, outside a general dealer following a council meeting in southern KwaZulu-Natal. He succumbed to complications from the attack weeks later, on September 4.
In July 2025, hitman Sbusiso Ncengwa was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for the murder. Commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga pressed Witness E on the glaring failure to prevent the killing, asking whether the shooters had named individuals who would assist them. Witness E confirmed, stating that the alleged masterminds identified by the gunmen were his superiors.
The witness concurred with the commission that the murder could have been prevented had action been taken between the warning and the shooting. However, he declined to disclose names, citing safety and operational constraints.
This testimony unfolds against the backdrop of former police minister Senzo Mchunu’s recent appearance before the commission, where he denied any wrongdoing and rejected suggestions of political interference in the investigation.