In a chilling development that cuts deep into South Africa’s entertainment industry, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has revealed that firearms seized during anti-drug operations are directly linked to the high-profile killings of South African artists, including a case in Johannesburg.
Ballistic testing confirmed that the weapons were used in multiple assassinations stretching across Gauteng and other provinces, Mkhwanazi said during a press update. These firearms were recovered as part of an ongoing investigation into an international drug cartel exposed in the wake of the 2024 murder of a Q-Tech employee, which has since led to a sprawling probe into organized crime, hitmen networks, and corruption at the highest levels.
Despite having identified suspects tied to the murders, no arrests have been made—a delay Mkhwanazi attributed to arrest warrants that remain unsigned, sparking concern over possible institutional interference or procedural sabotage.
This revelation adds another grim layer to the growing crisis around organized crime’s reach into the public and political spheres, especially as it now appears to be linked to the targeted killing of cultural figures. It also further intensifies scrutiny on law enforcement and judicial processes amid earlier claims that critical investigations are being intentionally blocked.
As families and fans of slain artists wait for justice, the question isn’t just who pulled the trigger—but who is protecting them from facing the consequences?
