Port Shepstone office

Lieutenant Colonel Prinsloo failed to disclose the visit to Maj-Gen Senona by Brigadier Naicker and the two Warrant Officers at Port Shepstone offices and no report or feedback concerning such visits were received by his office.

“Lieutenant Colonel Prinsloo also failed to disclose the visit to me by Brigadier Naicker, who is from head office, and the two Warrant Officers at Port Shepstone offices...my office never received any report or feedback concerning such visitor inspections”

Maj-Gen Senona does not dispute the visit by Brigadier Naicker and Warrant Officers but states it was never brought to his attention and no report of the inspection was ever sent to his office.

“I am not disputing the visit...However, I am indicating...that the visit initially was never brought to my attention. And thereafter, even a report of such an inspection was never brought or sent to my office.”

Maj-Gen Senona failed to properly inspect the office premises on 7 and 8 November 2021 despite observing unusual lights on the ground floor and no occurrences or book entries were made regarding this; he only inspected his own office and left, which leaves a gap in security oversight.

“He failed to properly inspect the office premises during the afternoon of the Sunday on the 7th of November 2021 and the morning of Monday, 8 November 2021, despite observing that lights were on at the ground floor which he considered abnormal. No occurrence book entries were made in this regard...He only went into his office and did what he did and from there he left, of which it leaves a vacuum in my mind why he never did that.”

Maj-Gen Senona failed to disclose the visit by Brigadier Nyuswa to the Port Shepstone offices on 2 November 2021 shortly before the drug theft occurred; Brigadier Nyuswa confirmed his visit.

“He further failed to disclose the visit by Brigadier Nyuswa to the Port Shepstone offices on Tuesday, the 2nd of November 2021, shortly before the theft occurred...I can confirm, Commissioners, that Brigadier Nyuswa also testified here and he confirmed that he did visit the office on the 2nd of November 2021.”

Maj-Gen Senona never visited the Port Shepstone office since the drugs were stored there.

“From where I am sitting, I have never visited that office ever since those drugs were stored at Port Shepstone.”

A docket was opened, registered and investigated at the station regarding the break-in, but no arrests were made.

“A docket was opened and registered and investigated at the station ... I believe there were no arrests on this one”

Colonel Jacob stated on 27 October 2021 that people were planning to break into Port Shepstone office to steal drugs, but Setshedi clarifies he was informed of an attempted break-in by Brigadier Nyuswaha, not that people planned to break in.

“that on 27 October 2021 that I had to told him that people were planning to break into Port Shepstone office to steal the drugs, when in fact I had told him that Brigadier Nyuswaha had informed me that there was attempted break-in at Port Shepstone office”

Warrant Officer Sander did not work at the Port Shepstone office during the period after November when the theft happened, nor was he based there at any time.

“No, Commissioner. Never been there, Commissioner, until I was working at SEM.”

LT-COL Prinsloo was acting Unit Commander in charge of the Port Shepstone office at the time of testimony.

“I was the Acting Unit Commander.”

Brigadier Nyuswa was aware of numerous applications to improve security and link to armed response at the office but no approval was received before exhibits were stored, leaving the office vulnerable.

“‘I had made numerous applications for these security alarm to be improved and linked to armed response. Brigadier Nyuswa was well aware of these applications. The latest application before the exhibits were received was on 13 January 2021, which was sent directly to Brigadier Nyuswa, together with a warning. However, no approval was received. The last application was made on 6 February 2023. At the time I left, there was no approval.’ ‘Just to CJC Commissioners, CJC 201 is another application that was sent, but it is just to show, as the witness had indicated earlier, that up to date, still, there is no armed response to that office, so it remains vulnerable.’”

In late October 2021, there was an attempted break-in at the office where exhibits were stored. The glass window was shattered by a stone during a weekend with severe load shedding, and the alarm was not working. Brigadier Nyuswa was informed but seemed unfazed and no steps were taken to enhance security.

“‘In late October 2021, there was an attempted break-in at the office. Someone tried to access the kitchen side of the office. The glass window was shattered by a stone. While there was an attempt to gain entry, the person was unsuccessful. The incident happened during the weekend, when there were severe load shedding. The alarm would not have been working as a result. After I investigated the incident, I prepared a factual report, which I sent to Brigadier Nyuswa. I had called him to inform him about the incident. He seemed unfazed about it. There was no steps taken by the Provincial Office to enhance security, even when the attempted break-in happened.’ ‘The attempted break-in should at least have raised an alarm at the Provincial Office, and Brigadier Nyuswa in particular. Immediate steps to ensure either the removal or the transfer of the exhibits or enhanced security should have been taken.’”

The break-in was widely reported and it was appreciated that the local office was not suitable to investigate, so the case was taken over by Pretoria team.

“The break-in was widely reported, and it seems it was appreciated that the office was not suitable.”

There was no official register at Port Shepstone office recording officers who came to deliver the cocaine.

“Warrant Officer Van Berg made an OB entry for each time that they came, exact time they came, exact time they left. But as such, like a visiting register there, no we do not have that...”

Port Shepstone office has no register or list of officers who came to deliver cocaine, so no record exists of those involved.

“No. ... No. ... No. ...”