No AK47 cartridges were found at Swart murder scene: Ballistic expert

Captain Laurance Makgotloe at the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria on February 02, 2026

A ballistic expert who analysed cartridges in the Armand Swart murder case in Vereeniging in 2024 has told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that no AK47 cartridges were found at the location.

This is despite preliminary evidence suggesting that an AK-47 assault rifle was used to gun down Swart outside his work premises.

Captain Laurance Makgotloe, a Senior Forensic Analyst in the Automated Ballistics Identification System, started testifying at the Inquiry on Monday morning.

His testimony is being led by Adv Teboho Mosikili: “Captain, can you just pause there and just explain where you say that you could tell that an AK-47 assault rifle had been used. What do you mean by that?”

Makgotloe replied: “I mean our preliminary investigation at the crime scene suggested that an AK-47 rifle was used because at the scene we found the bullet core, 6 bullet cores of AK-47. And 6, no, 2 bullet cores of AK-47 and 6 AK-47 fired bullets. I would expect to find the AK-47 cartridge cases because they should have been ejected at the scene.”

MADLANGA COMMISSION | On Day 51 of the inquiry, Senior Forensic Analyst Captain Laurance Makgotloe takes the stand. Tune in to SABC News for live proceedings. pic.twitter.com/4jcuBrz3Q7

— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 2, 2026