Private security businessman Calvin Mathibeli has expressed his dissatisfaction with the law after several of his properties including a home in La Lucia and Durban North were raided with what he believes to be a fraudulent warrant of arrest.
Mathibeli said the properties were raided by the men in blue driving several cars and some with covered faces. They surrounded his home where a relative lives and allegedly insulted his wife at another property accusing him of being involved in a case opened in Edenvale, Gauteng.
Mathibeli has instituted a R15 million civil claim against the South African Police Service “rendering him particularly vulnerable to retaliation and abuse of power.”
Reports indicate that on 19 December, at around 08:32, members of the specialised Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) allegedly conducted visits at some properties linked to Mathibeli across Durban and Gauteng.
In a statement Mathibeli’s representative said “Multiple units of the South African Police Service (SAPS) unlawfully descended on our Chairman’s residences and offices in what appears to have been a coordinated operation premised on a fraudulent warrant of arrest. On 19 December 2025 at approximately 08:32, SAPS members, some with their faces concealed, arrived at one of our Chairman’s properties in La Lucia. The officers claimed they were acting on instructions from the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner and stated that they were there to arrest our Chairman,” the statement said.
However, they were informed by a “ family member” that Mathibeli no longer resides at that address, he moved in April 2024, although the property remains one of his assets.
“The officers demanded that she contact him. She attempted to do so, but his phone went to voicemail, after which the officers took her contact details. While she was at the gate, other SAPS members surrounded the property’s boundary walls with firearms pointed at the house. They demanded entry, which she refused, informing them that children were present inside the residence. The officers eventually departed, leaving several vehicles parked outside the premises.”
They are said to have proceeded to his property in the north of Johannesburg where they met his wife, former actress and businesswoman Simangele Mathibeli. This is where his wife and Calvin and Family Group CEO said she was subjected to insults and derogatory slurs.
“Later the same day, SAPS members attended another family residence at Umhlanga, where security personnel were questioned about his whereabouts. In addition, SAPS Alberton officers attended our his offices in Alberton, stating that they had been instructed to arrest him. These officers alleged that they were acting on instructions from a certain Colonel Smith.”
Following these events, Mathibeli indicates in the statement that he made direct inquiries with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) which confirmed that they had no knowledge of the operation conducted against our Chairman.
“There was no instruction issued by DPCI to arrest him and the DPCI has no officer known as “Colonel Smith” involved in this matter.”
Mathibeli has since formally demanded a written response from SAPS addressing the following questions and concerns, including certified proof of the authenticity and validity of the alleged J165 warrant and case number.
He described the incident as an “unlawful rogue police operation” aimed at his downfall.
“These attacks are not new. They have been occurring silently over the past six years, culminating in the civil action already instituted by Calvin and Family Group against SAPS in KwaZulu-Natal,” his statement reads.
“We further place on record that our Chairman has availed himself to appear before the Madlanga Commission and the Parliamentary Ad Hoc committee.
