National Head

Police protocols require that the person in charge of the crime scene, regardless of rank, must be obeyed, and failure to follow protocol by members must result in consequence management.

“the person in charge of the crime scene , irrespective of rank , even if I go to a crime scene , Commissioners , as a General , and a Constable is entry level , is in charge of the crime scene , that person is in charge . I w i l l g i v e y o u a n e x a m p l e . A l o t o f c r i m e s c e n e s , y o u w i l l s e e t h e M i n i s t e r o f P o l i c e , t h e N a t i o n a l C o m m i s s i o n e r, t h e N a t i o n a l H e a d , t h e y g o t o t h e c r i m e s c e n e s . Th e i r s o l e p u r p o s e o f g o i n g t h e r e i s t o g e t f a c t s a n d c o n g r a t u l a t e t h e m e m b e r s f o r t h e i r g o o d w o r k . A n d t h e y e x p e c t t h a t t h o s e p r o t o c o l s m u s t b e f o l l o w e d . T h e s a m e a p p l i e s t o m e . B u t I c a n t e l l y o u t h a t i f t h e m e m b e r s h a v e20 c o n f e s s e d o r m a d e a d m i s s i o n s t h a t t h e y d i d n o t f o l l o w t h e p r o t o c o l , c o n s e q u e n c e m a n a g e m e n t n e e d s t o a p p l y .”

General Mbotho further threatened members, promising to deal with them, and stated his dislike of the TOMS unit and intention to have it fall under General Flynn to keep it away from him.

“He was threatening members and promising to deal with them. He also indicated that he does not want, nor like the TOMS unit, and that he intends talking to the National Head that TOMS fall under General Flynn because he does not want TOMS near him”

Despite a 2017 directive prohibiting storing exhibits in offices, General Senona instructed Brigadier Nyuswa to store exhibits at Lt-Col Prinsloo's office, and it is possible he had permission from the National Head to override the directive.

“Commissioner, I do not see it as an unlawful instruction because General Senona gave the instruction to Brigadier Nyuswa that it must be stored at my office. He could have gotten permission from the National Head to do it. I do not know.”

Lt-Col Prinsloo claims there were strict instructions on reporting to Brigadier Nyuswa, then General Senona, and finally to the National Head, and speaking directly to the National Head would cause big problems for him.

“There are strict instructions at my line of reporting to Brigadier Nyuswa, from him to General Senona, from Senona to the National Head. If I spoke directly to the National Head, there would have been big problems.”

Lt-Col Prinsloo testified that the National Head was aware of the security challenges at his office and that quarterly and annual inspections were done by a national team which reported directly to the National Head.

“The National Head was also well aware of the security challenges at my office... these reports from those national inspections goes directly to the National Head... The National Head was well aware of my challenges there in Port Shepstone.”

Lt-Col Prinsloo explained that communicating directly with the National Head past Brigadier Nyuswa and General Senona would have caused big problems for him.

“If I would have jumped Brigadier Nyuswa and General Senona and communicated with the National Head, even from the National Head's side, I would have been in big problems.”

Lt-Col Prinsloo testified that the National Head would have received factual reports of incidents like the break-in and was aware that drugs had been stored by him.

“So, he would have received that factual report of the break-in, and he knew that those drugs had been stored by me.”

Lt-Col Prinsloo believes Brigadier Naicker would have informed the National Head about the storage of drugs at his office; Brigadier Naicker is S.A.N.E.B coordinator and reports directly to the National Head regarding drug seizures.

“I would presume that Brigadier Naicker would have informed him. Brigadier Naicker is the SANEB coordinator ... All drug seizures are directed reported to him.”

Lt-Col Prinsloo admits he does not know if the National Head actually knew about the drugs being stored at his office.

“No, I would not have [known the National Head knew].”

In terms of legislation, polygraph tests form part of integrity testing and it is the National Head that directs who needs to be subjected to it.

“In terms of our legislation, I believe it is section 17(e) speaks to integrity testing. And as part of that process, polygraph tests are also part of the machinery that is deployed to determine deception or whether individuals were perhaps complicit in the Commissioning or taking part in any offence. And then it is upon the National Head to then direct who needs to be exposed to that process.”