South Africa: SAPS Forensic Analyst's Bail Bid Looms Amid Serious Evidence Tampering Accusations

31 May 2026
Daily Maverick (Johannesburg)
By Vincent Cruywagen

Captain Laurance Makgotloe, a forensic analyst attached to the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory, is set to apply for bail in the Pretoria Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 2 June, after being charged with defeating the ends of justice.

Captain Laurance Makgotloe, a police forensic analyst, is facing charges for allegedly tampering with crucial ballistic evidence in the April 2024 murder of engineer Armand Swart. The allegations against Makgotloe came to light during testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Following an investigation, the commission's Recommendations Task Team arrested Makgotloe at his Pretoria home on Friday, 22 May. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that during the arrest, team members seized state property, including ballistic reports, rounds of ammunition and other evidence relevant to the case.

Makgotloe made a brief appearance in the Pretoria Magistrates' Court on Monday, 25 May. The matter was postponed to Tuesday, 2 June, for a formal bail application.

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Read more SAPS forensic captain arrested in expanding Madlanga fallout May 24, 2026 The Madlanga Commission had previously heard testimony about the alleged tampering of forensic evidence linked to the murder of Swart.

Central to this testimony was evidence by witnesses A and B, detectives attached to the SAPS Gauteng Organised Crime Unit, who raised concerns about the ballistic investigation conducted at the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria.

According to Witness A, police recovered 15 rifle cartridges in a plastic bag,...

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