The SIU recently revealed that South Africa’s immigration system had effectively been turned into a marketplace, where visas and permits were allegedly sold to the highest bidder. The findings have sparked renewed public interest in high profile immigration fraud cases, including that of Chabalala.

The Rise and Sudden Fall of “Mshengu”

Chabalala, once known for his flamboyant lifestyle and his Sam Holdings Group empire, drew national attention in 2019 when he arrived at the Durban July with a convoy of luxury vehicles reportedly stretching into the dozens. The spectacle reportedly triggered scrutiny from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks.

On 6 September 2019, Chabalala was arrested on charges including corruption, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, illegal entry into South Africa, and providing false information to authorities.

During his arrest, he claimed to have been born in Limpopo. Investigators later alleged he was in fact a Zimbabwean national.

The Affidavit and the Killing

Shortly after Chabalala’s arrest, his close associate and manager, Nkosinathi Ngcongo, provided a sworn affidavit to investigators. Days later, Ngcongo was shot and killed.

Court proceedings later resulted in a 15 year prison sentence for a bodyguard linked to the murder plot. However, allegations have persisted that a suspected gunman known as Khumalo has not been arrested.

Bail, Bribery Allegations and Disappearance

Chabalala was granted R200,000 bail at the Witbank Magistrate’s Court. Less than six months later, he was arrested again, this time accused of attempting to bribe a senior police officer to make his case docket disappear and return his seized vehicle.

He was granted R500,000 bail despite opposition from the State.

In March 2020, after being released on bail for the second time, Chabalala vanished.

Before disappearing, he allegedly left a note suggesting he intended to end his life near the Crocodile River or a game reserve along the N2 towards Hluhluwe. No remains were publicly confirmed, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Authorities had reportedly secured two warrants for his arrest after he failed to appear in court.

SIU Findings on Immigration Corruption

The renewed attention comes after the SIU presented interim findings into corruption within the Department of Home Affairs.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber confirmed that the probe, authorised by Cyril Ramaphosa under Proclamation 154 of 2024, examined visa processes between October 2004 and February 2024.

Among the findings

More than 2,000 study visas were allegedly fraudulently issued

Financial benefits exceeding R181 million were traced to beneficiaries

Four officials earning under R25,000 per month reportedly received R16.3 million in unexplained deposits

Seventy five disciplinary cases were finalised over two financial years

Twenty officials were dismissed since April last year

High profile cases, including those involving Shepherd Bushiri and Timothy Omotoso, were also flagged during the investigation.

The Unanswered Question

Five years later, the mystery remains.

Is Sam “Mshengu” Chabalala dead. Did he flee the country. Or could new investigations into immigration corruption eventually reveal what really happened.

For now, the businessman who once dominated headlines has vanished, leaving behind unanswered questions, unfinished court cases, and a legal system still grappling with the full extent of alleged immigration corruption.

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Sikhala, 53, was travelling with his 78-year-old uncle, Alexander Ferrowst Thema, when officers stopped their car on Kgosi Mampuru Street on 6 November 2025. During the search, police reportedly found 26 blasting cartridges and 15 connector cap fuses.

Both men were arrested and charged with possession of explosives. Prosecutors confirmed that Sikhala is in South Africa legally on a valid visa, while Thema holds a South African ID. Because of this, the State did not oppose their bail.

The case has been postponed to 3 February 2026 to allow further investigation.

This is a developing story, and more updates are expected as the matter returns to court.

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Thandwa Johanna Moseneke, 54, appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, where she was granted bail of R3,500. She faces charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

The allegations date back to July 2021, when a man was arrested for stealing medicine from his employer. After securing his release on bail, he allegedly struck a deal with the investigating officer, agreeing to pay R5,000 to ensure the case never reached court.

According to investigators, the officer received part of the payment in cash and another portion via electronic transfer from the suspect’s wife. On the same day, the officer allegedly passed R1,000 to Moseneke in exchange for keeping the case off the court roll.

The case was later declined for prosecution, which raised suspicion and led the employer to file a complaint. An internal investigation exposed the payment and implicated both the officer and the prosecutor.

The officer was dismissed from the police service, later admitted to corruption in court, and received a five-year suspended sentence.

Following the revelations, Moseneke handed herself over to police on September 11, 2025. She was granted bail under strict conditions: she must not interfere with witnesses, must remain in Gauteng unless notifying authorities, must not apply for a new passport, and must not commit further offences.

The case has been postponed to December 8, 2025, for further investigation.

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Nikita’s short life came to a devastating end last week. Police were called to a shack in Eldorado Park after neighbours heard disturbing cries. Inside, they found the little girl with severe head injuries, bruises, and a swollen eye. She was rushed to hospital, but despite desperate efforts to save her, she passed away.

Her father was arrested at the scene when he failed to explain what had happened. Investigators have since added her mother to the list of those accused, deepening the community’s shock and sorrow.

This past Sunday, residents of Eldorado Park gathered to mourn the little girl. At the memorial, neighbours lit candles, shared prayers, and demanded justice for Nikita. Her death has stirred painful conversations about abuse and domestic violence—issues that are too often hidden behind closed doors.

For many, Nikita’s story has become a cry for change, a reminder that silence in the face of abuse can cost lives.

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During the proceedings at the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court, the investigating officer gave testimony about the disturbing evidence found at Meek’s home. He recounted seeing bloodstains on the child’s pillow and described how Jayden-Lee’s body was discovered on a stairwell inside the residential complex, bearing injuries to the neck and head, along with visible bruises.

The prosecution is firmly opposing bail, arguing that releasing Meek would not be in the interest of justice.

The magistrate overseeing the case informed Meek that her hearing would resume the following day at 11 a.m., after the court attends to a separate civil matter.

As the case unfolds, it continues to stir public emotion and concern, especially with the sensitive nature of the charges and the tragic loss of a young life.

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Candid Chilwane allegedly posed as a professional conveyancer, working with fake estate agents to deceive property buyers. Between August 2023 and October 2024, the group advertised properties and collected money from unsuspecting victims, with all payments reportedly going into Chilwane’s personal account. What started with eight charges has now grown to 20, with two additional fraud cases filed in Pretoria for similar acts. In those cases, he is accused of accepting payments for property transfers that were never completed.

Authorities painted a disturbing picture during the court hearing. Victims, some of whom are reportedly armed and furious, have allegedly threatened Chilwane’s life. One woman even fled to another province after claiming she had been intimidated by individuals sent by him.

Police also testified that Chilwane tried to retrieve files from his office before his arrest—raising concerns that he might hide or destroy evidence. They also believe he poses a threat to witnesses and could attempt further intimidation if released.

Chilwane argued for his release on medical grounds, citing kidney issues and poor prison healthcare. However, the court found no solid proof that his condition required hospitalization or that medical care was being denied.

In the end, the judge ruled that Chilwane failed to prove his release would be in the interest of justice, leaving him to remain behind bars as investigations continue.

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Likhona, a former student at Ikusasalethu Secondary School, went missing in May. Her body was discovered mutilated the next day in a case that deeply shook the communities of Braamfischerville and Durban Deep.

Mnisi, who was reportedly last seen with Likhona on the day she vanished, has consistently denied any involvement in her death. He has a criminal record, having previously served time for robbery and attempted murder. He is currently out on parole for those offences.

The State had argued against bail, citing Mnisi’s past and a witness statement alleging he was seen with Likhona shortly before she went missing. However, during his bail hearing, Mnisi’s girlfriend, Pinky Gantso, testified that he was with her in Daveyton on the night Likhona disappeared. This alibi was supported by cellphone data presented in court, which tracked Mnisi’s location to Daveyton and later to Kagiso on the same evening.

In his own words, Mnisi told the court he had travelled to Daveyton on that Saturday and only returned later that night. With the defence highlighting the lack of solid evidence, the court decided to release him on bail.

Although the State opposed bail, it has since accepted the court’s decision. The case is expected to return to court on Friday, July 11, as investigations continue.

This case has left a community in grief, still searching for justice for a young girl whose life was tragically cut short.

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Each of the accused was released on R10,000 bail following their court appearance. Their arrests have sent shockwaves through the police force and raised new concerns about integrity within South Africa’s law enforcement leadership.

For years, critics have questioned the opaque nature of some of the crime intelligence unit’s operations. What was designed to be a key force in crime prevention has, at times, appeared entangled in the very misconduct it was meant to uncover.

As the legal process unfolds, many South Africans are left wondering who is truly looking out for their safety.

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They face charges of attempted Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Fraud and Attempt to defeat the Ends of Justice, related to an alleged plot against TV actress Tebogo Thobejane. The duo, along with co-accused Musa Kekana (35) and Tiego Floyd Mabusela (47), who also face charges of Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder, are scheduled to appear in the High Court on 11 July 2025, for indictment.

The court postponed the bail application after the State presented new information and the defence requested time to prepare. The accused remain in custody, pending the outcome of their bail application.

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Kutlwano had been missing since November 2024, his disappearance sparking outrage, fear, and desperate hope that the little boy would be found alive. But this week, police confirmed what many had feared: Kutlwano is gone.

His mother, Keneilwe Shalaba, remains in custody after her bail was denied. She is facing grave charges of human trafficking and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Investigations have revealed chilling details. Authorities say Kutlwano was allegedly sold for R75,000—the money reportedly deposited directly into Keneilwe’s bank account on the same day her child vanished.

The case took another disturbing turn with the recent arrest of a traditional healer—a sangoma—believed to be linked to the boy’s disappearance and death.

Police are continuing to investigate, and more arrests could follow.

This devastating case comes as the country focuses on the rights and safety of children, reminding all of the urgency to protect the most vulnerable in society.

Kutlwano’s story, like so many others, is a heart-wrenching reminder that for some children, home is not a safe place—and that behind every headline is a child who deserved a chance at life.

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