Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation

The IDAC team consists of seniors as senior state advocates, juniors as junior state advocates, and investigators including two chief investigators named Perumalan and Nico Booi, with investigators reporting monthly to the chief investigators.

“beneath the DDPP’s are the senior state advocates and then the junior state advocates and on the investigative side we then IDAC drew both on investigators seconded from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and on contracted civilians who were hired as financial investigators ... including a chief investigator ... currently have two. It is Chief Investigator Perumalan and Chief Investigator Booi, Nico Booi ... all the investigators are reporting directly to the two chief investigators on a monthly basis.”

Responses by the investigation team did not appear in the court docket and were not evidently relevant to the charges.

“The responses referred to Ms Mokwele's father said to the suspended Brigadier in the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, who had attempted to corrupt investigators, and to a theory concerning the capture of a sensitive intelligence resource. I could find no evidential foundation for these assertions in the docket, and their irrelevance to the charges was not apparent.”

Advocate Johnson provided a single-page case study document prepared for FATF concerning the Tembisa Hospital investigation, requesting it be kept confidential under an embargo agreement with FATF.

“You provided a document which speaks to those matters and you will address momentarily, but you highlighted the sensitive nature of that document and its contents and requested that it not be made publicly available because it provides detail as to progress of investigations.”

The SIU referred the Tembisa Hospital investigation in all its forms to the DPCI in or around 2020.

“Th e Te m b i s a h o s p i t a l m a t t e r, i n a l l o f i t s f o r m s , i n h o w e v e r m a n y l e g s o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n i t h a s , w h o m e v e r t h e p e r s o n s a n d e n t i t i e s o f i n t e r e s t a r e , h a d b e e n r e f e r r e d a r o u n d a b o u t 2 0 2 0 o r... b y t h e S I U t o t h e D P C I .”

IDAC does not hold or handle the Maumela / Tembisa Hospital matter, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the DPCI.

“C a n I s a y o n e m o r e t i m e , w e d o n o t h a v e t h e M a u m e l a m a t t e r.”

The subpoena served on 4 July 2026 required testimony about allegations including IDAC operating outside its mandate, pursuing politically motivated criminal cases, and interference in criminal investigations and prosecutions.

“On 4 July 2026, I was served with a subpoena in terms of section 32 of the Commission's Act 8 of 1947, requiring me to appear personally before the Commission on Monday 3 July 2026 to give evidence and to be questioned about... matters arising from the evidence of Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi ... Whether criminal syndicates, organised criminal groups, politically connected persons, or other unlawful actors have infiltrated... SAPS, NPA, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Crime Intelligence, IPID... The factual and evidentiary basis for any allegations attributed to me...”

Warrant Officer Mpangase was employed in 2021 as a detective within the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation based in Durban and was tasked to investigate national priority violence crimes including murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and bank robberies.

“I confirm that during the year 2021, I was employed as a detective within the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, based in Durban. I was attached to Serious Organized Crime Investigation Unit, tasked to investigate national priority violence crimes, which included murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, bank robberies, among others.”

The summons issued to Colonel Brian Padayachee requires him to respond to allegations about infiltration, capture, exertion of undue influence, and corruption within the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority, and other criminal justice system components by criminal syndicates, politically connected persons, and unlawful actors.

“The summons requires me to appear before the Commission on Monday 13 July 2026 for the purposes of giving evidence and be questioned about the following. Matters arising from the evidence of Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi during his evidence before the Commission on 17, 18 and 19 September whether criminal syndicates, organised criminal groups, politically connected persons or other unlawful actors have infiltrated, captured, exerted undue influence over or otherwise compromised the South African Police, the NPA, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Crime Intelligence, Independent Police Investigative Directorate or any other component of the criminal justice system.”

The investigation of such break-in cases is normally done by General Detectives and not under the mandate of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).

“Normally, this type of cases are investigated by General Detectives. It does not fall within the focus area or mandate of the DPCI”

Brigadier Nyuswa confirms that he and another senior member of the DPCI went to Isipingo police station before going to Port Shepstone, explaining the delay.

“But we went to Isipingo, Commissioners. That is why we were delayed to get to Port Shepstone.”

Photographs received show the door either repaired recently or at the time of the theft at the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) premises, with a video also available to confirm.

“We have received some photographs ... we just want to know if it is at the DPCI premises or whether it was done at the time of the theft. We have received photographs of the door in place repaired ... There is a video as well”

Advocate Khumalo challenges Chief Mashaba on not involving the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) despite it being the responsible body for level 3 drug trafficking investigations; Mashaba replies that DPCI involvement is often a 'no-no' in general terms but is evasive about specifics.

“Because the PCI is captured, you made the decision that you do not want to involve them ... DPCl, okay, me knowing not all obviously it cannot be a blanket statement to all. Most of them we know it is a no-no.”

Chief Mashaba stated the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) is known to be corrupt or compromised and worse than normal police.

“DPCI most specifically are the ones, are the ones that we know, they are more captured. They are worse than a normal police because we know they are captured”

Chief Mashaba chooses not to involve the DPCI in drug busts because they are perceived as compromised and not trustworthy.

“If the concern was that they would interfere with the operation and compromise the bust, once the drugs have been found, that is gone...”

Witness I was transferred to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) in 2009, based at Serious Organised Crime Unit, and by 2021 was Team Leader for the South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB).

“Members were transferred to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, DPCI, in 2009, and I was based at Serious Organised Crime Unit. In 2021, I was Team Leader for South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau, SANEB, a specialised unit within the SAPS”

Witness I is presently a Subsection Commander at TOMS, with duties including investigations, extraditions, surveillance, and operational leadership, reporting to National Head and Divisional Commissioner of DPCI.

“I am presently a Subsection Commander at TOMS, and my duties include open, inspect, and close enquiries... conduct surveillance observation and monitoring on armed robberies... attend management meetings within the unit and also lead members in meetings with third parties and other role players, command and control of members on all operational tasking”

Colonel Gavin Houston Jacob is a Colonel in the South African Police and serves as the Unit Commander of the Durban Serious Organized Crime Investigation Unit.

“I am a Colonel in the South African Police with PERSAL . I am attached to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and the Unit Commander of the Durban Serious Organized Crime Investigation Unit.”

The relationship between the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) and Crime Intelligence in drug busts is very good and characterized by ongoing trust and collaboration.

“Commissioners, I am going to say it is brilliant. We have a very good working relationship. I cannot do my work without them. And then once they have generated intelligence, they cannot do their work without us. So I would say it is highly, that is an incorrect word, I will say it is an ongoing working relationship with trust built between each other.”

Lieutenant Colonel Gavin Jacob approached the witness on 27 October 2021 for advice regarding the destruction of drug exhibits related to a seizure on 22 June 2021 of 41 kilograms of suspected cocaine.

“Lieutenant Colonel Gavin Jacob was there to see Captain Kubheka and wanted advice from me ... He asked for my advice on how to destroy exhibits ... relating to the 22 June 2021 seizure of 41 kilograms of suspected Cocaine”

Sebola joined the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) in 2016.

“In 2016.”

Warrant Officer Rikhotso is part of Serious Organized Crime division within DPCI, which has three divisions in Serious Organized Crime.

“He is with DPCI but we have got three divisions in Serious Organized Crime.”

Prinsloo started his law enforcement career in 1984, training six months at Pretoria West Police College, then worked at Port Shepstone Police Station charge office handling public complaints, joined the Port Shepstone Dog (K9) Unit in January 1986, SANAB after 1998 until its closure end 2003, then joined the Organised Crime Unit in 2004 which later became part of the DPCI in 2009.

“I started my law enforcement career in 1984. I did basic training in policing at the Pretoria West Police College for six months. After completing my training, I was posted at the Port Shepstone Police Station in the charge office, dealing with public complaints. In January 1986, I joined the Port Shepstone Dog Unit, called K9 Unit now. Thereafter in 1998, I joined the South African Narcotics and Alcohol Bureau, it was called SANAB. ... At the beginning of 2004... called the Organised Crime Unit ... later became housed within the DPCI when the DPCI was established in 2009.”

Chairperson states that members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) would be the number one suspects for the cocaine theft.

“if I were to draw up a list of suspects as to who stole this Cocaine, members of the DPCI would be number one on my list.”

Lieutenant Colonel Prinsloo agrees that members of the DPCI are main suspects, but also states that some non-DPCI members were involved to bring the cocaine to his office.

“I would agree with you, Commissioner.”

Chairperson acknowledges a wide group of suspects including outside the DPCI and SAPS, who could have been informed about the cocaine's storage in Port Shepstone by law enforcement officers.

“So there is that wide, amorphous group of suspects as well, but number one is DPCI.”

The first witness is Major-General Hendrik Frans Flynn, head of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation at the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), based in Pretoria.

“The witness is Maj-Gen Hendrik Frans Flynn and he will be sworn in.”

Maj-Gen Flynn has had a long career in South African Police history since 1989, working in various investigative units including the Precious Metals and Diamond Unit and is currently the Component Head for Serious Organised Crime Investigation in the DPCI.

“I am a Maj-Gen in the South African Police Service, attached to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the DPCI or Hawks, as the Component Head for Serious Organised Crime Investigation... I joined SAPS on 1 January 1989... In September 1990, I was attached to the Diamond and Gold Branch in Klerksdorp, which later became known as the Precious Metals and Diamond Unit... This unit was eventually incorporated into the South African Police Service Organised Crime Unit... On 20 February 2009, the DPCI was established, incorporating the SAPS Organised Crime Unit. I have been with the DPCI since its inception.”

Telephone discussions between detectives in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) detectives, and FSL personnel are substantiated with witness statements regarding the handling of exhibits.

“obviously there is a lot of indications that there was telephonic discussions between the detectives in KZN, the DPCI detectives, and FSL and it is substantiated with witness statements”