Mogotsi, Matlala and the ‘Big Five’ criminal cartel episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 30, 2025 · 42 MIN

Mogotsi, Matlala and the ‘Big Five’ criminal cartel

from The Lead · host News24

It is already week three of the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria, and we have witnessed some damning allegations of the criminal capture of the country’s justice system. The rot in the police is so bad that the senior men and women in blue have a name for the criminal syndicate that has infiltrated its heart: “The Big Five”. And with a new inquiry evidence leader, advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC entering the fray, how can we better make sense of the claims we are hearing right now? To navigate us through the noise in this edition of The Lead, you will hear from our News24 specialist legal journalist, Karyn Maughan, live from the Pretoria inquiry, Mbekezeli Benjamin, a researcher and advocacy officer for non-profit group Judges Matter, as well as News24 investigations editor Pieter du Toit. Later in the show, French police are investigating the death of former long-time Cabinet minister Nathi Mthethwa at a Paris hotel. And finally, we remember Winnie Madikizela-Mandela with “On This Day in SA History” courtesy of SA History Online. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: [email protected]. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

It is already week three of the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria, and we have witnessed some damning allegations of the criminal capture of the country’s justice system. The rot in the police is so bad that the senior men and women in blue have a name for the criminal syndicate that has infiltrated its heart: “The Big Five”. And with a new inquiry evidence leader, advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC entering the fray, how can we better make sense of the claims we are hearing right now? To navigate us through the noise in this edition of The Lead, you will hear from our News24 specialist legal journalist, Karyn Maughan, live from the Pretoria inquiry, Mbekezeli Benjamin, a researcher and advocacy officer for non-profit group Judges Matter, as well as News24 investigations editor Pieter du Toit. Later in the show, French police are investigating the death of former long-time Cabinet minister Nathi Mthethwa at a Paris hotel. And finally, we remember Winnie Madikizela-Mandela with “On This Day in SA History” courtesy of SA History Online. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: [email protected]. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

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Mogotsi, Matlala and the ‘Big Five’ criminal cartel

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This episode was published on September 30, 2025.

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It is already week three of the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria, and we have witnessed some damning allegations of the criminal capture of the country’s justice system. The rot in the police is so bad that the senior men and women in blue have a...

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