Moments after judgment was handed down in Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s application to have her deportation from Tanzania declared illegal, Brig Jackson Mkhaulesi received a phone call that left him agitated and troubled.
Instead of being thrilled that the state won in the Bloemfontein High Court, a flustered Mkhaulesi walked to his police vehicle while still on his phone and drove to the Government Garage where he shot himself in the head.
The circumstances surrounding the decorated, 59-year-old officer’s death are cloaked in mystery, but sources close to him said the Free State Organised Crime Unit head wanted to quit and go on early retirement.
“It was sudden. It came out of nowhere,” said a member of his unit. “We heard about his pending resignation, but he later told us that he had resigned and was waiting to finalise everything.”
A crime intelligence officer, who cannot be named, told the Sunday Times that he was in court when Mkhaulesi received the phone call and saw him walking out.
The only thing he asked from us was to pray for him as he worked on the Bester case. But he did not seem negatively affected by this case
— Puleng Mkhaulesi, sister
He explained that it was unusual for Mkhaulesi to attend Magudumana’s hearing.
“Mkhaulesi was not in the habit of attending these court appearances and I think this was the first time he attended this case. He is the head of organised crime in the province,” the officer said.
“His juniors, who have been running around in this matter, are usually the ones who attend court cases in case they need to testify — but he was usually not in attendance.
“His demeanour changed and he walked out of court before jumping into his car. He was still on his phone when he drove off.”
From witness accounts, Mkhaulesi appeared to have been on his phone until he reached the Government Garage on Rhodes Avenue — about 5km from the court — where he fatally shot himself.
Mathato Mantsho, an informal trader who works across the road from the garage, saw Mkhaulesi in his last moments as he drove past her.
“He first drove in the direction towards the Government Garage before making a U-turn there at the traffic lights. He drove in the opposite direction while on his phone and passed us again. Moments later, we saw him drive past again, this time in the direction of the Government Garage and parked his vehicle on the side of the road,” said Matsho.
She said she was confused when she saw a group of security guards from the garage surround Mkhaulesi’s vehicle a few minutes after he had parked it.
“We didn’t know what was happening and we went closer to see. We saw him sitting inside with a gunshot wound to his head. We didn't hear the shot go off because of the traffic and the noise around the area,” she said.
Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe declined to comment on Mkhaulesi’s alleged resignation. However, a high-ranking insider told the Sunday Times their investigations show that Mkhaulesi had personal problems and “the investigation will tell us more on exactly what happened”.
A close colleague who asked not to be named said Mkhaulesi had instituted divorce proceedings against his wife but said he doubted this was the reason he ended his life.
“Though he was a private person, he mentioned that things were not well at home. He told me that he was separated from his wife. He did not get into detail,” the colleague said.
However, Mkhaulesi’s sister Puleng told the Sunday Times she was not aware of her brother’s pending resignation or divorce.
“There is nothing like that. My brother and his wife had problems, just like any other couple, but they were happy. He did not tell me anything about a divorce,” she said.
“As far as I know, he had not resigned or was in the process of resigning because he did not tell me anything. The only thing that he asked from us was to pray for him as he worked on the Bester case. But he did not seem negatively affected by this case.”
Though he was a private person, he mentioned that things were not well at home. He told me that he was separated from his wife. He did not get into detail
Puleng said the family were “trying to cope”.
“We are waiting for the investigators to tell us what happened and what could have led to his death,” she said.
An insider close to the investigation said police were thoroughly investigating Mkhaulesi’s death.
“We want to rule out any foul play. That is why a fingerprint expert is going to take prints from the firearm and also [from his] hand and fingerprints around the car. There is no-one suspected at this point, but we want to make sure nothing else happens in this case,” said a highly-ranked insider.
The insider added that, because Mkhaulesi was close to retirement age, “the force wanted to know if he was going to extend his stay or take his pension and become a contract police officer”.
Mkhaulesi was a seasoned investigator who earned a number of accolades in his 31-year career. He was voted the best detective commander in 2012 and 2013.
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