South Africa: Police probe into the death of Goolam Vawda, a controversial social media figure

Authorities have confirmed that an inquest docket has been opened after a 50‑year‑old man was discovered dead in his hotel room in Sandton on the morning of 27 January 2026. While police have not officially released his name, multiple media outlets have identified the deceased as Goolam Mohammed Suliman Vawda, the man widely believed to be behind the politically charged @Goolamv/@Goolammv account on X.​

Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the cause of death remains unknown and will be determined by a postmortem, adding that investigations are under way and officers are “not at liberty” to disclose the victim’s identity at this stage. According to reports, Vawda’s body was found shortly after he was allegedly served with court papers linked to accusations of fraud, cyberbullying, hate speech and defamatory online campaigns targeting politicians, journalists and other public figures.

Vawda, branded by critics as an “information peddler” and notorious political stirrer, used his account to weigh in on South Africa’s political battles, often amplifying or attacking senior ANC figures and their opponents. In one of his final posts earlier in January, he strongly backed billionaire Patrice Motsepe as the future leader of the ANC, arguing that anything other than continuity beyond President Cyril Ramaphosa would be a “disaster” for the party.

News of his death has ignited fierce debate on social media, with some political figures offering restrained condolences while others highlight the damage they say was caused by his online campaigns. As speculation swirls around the circumstances of his final hours, police stress that the matter is being handled as an inquest and that no conclusions about foul play or suicide can be drawn until forensic results are available.