unit commander

The Unit Commander reports operational crime scene handling to the Provincial Commander, a Brigadier, who then reports to the General, who reviews and authorizes reports after seeking clarity if needed. Members of the DPCI undergo training in crime scene processing under a curriculum called Resolving of Crime Course, which includes necessary protocols such as cordoning off crime scenes and calling the LCRC.

“The Unit Commander will report, provide reports to the Provincial Commander, who is a level of a Brigadier. A Brigadier will read once he is happy, he reports to me. I receive reports. I will read it. If I need clarity seeking questions, I will send it back. They will rectify and then I sign it. So part of this, I saw that during those years, in terms of processing the crime scenes, we know the crime scene must be cordoned off and you must call the LCRC and all those kind of stuff. It is something that is in the curriculum of the current course that is called Resolving of Crime Course. All the members of the DPCI underwent that type of training.”

Maj-Gen Senona states that the alarm was armed at Port Shepstone but was not linked to security company notification to the Unit Commander, meaning the commander would not automatically know of emergencies via the alarm.

“The alarm was armed, although it was not linked to the security company... the Unit Commander's phone must also be linked so that once something happens... he must also get a notification... it happened with me while I was still a Unit Commander.”

General Senona managed safety of seized drugs by taking the keys and placing them in his safe at the office and instructing the Unit Commander to ensure members visited the offices at intervals.

“you stated paragraph 2 that you manage the safety of the drugs by taking the keys and placing them in your safe at the office and requesting and instructing the Unit Commander to ensure members visit the offices at intervals”

Major-General Senona claims it is the responsibility of the Unit Commander, e.g. Lieutenant Colonel Prinsloo, to appoint an SAP 13 clerk for managing exhibit registers at DPCI offices, but he was not privy to all national instructions related to this.

“A s f a r a s I c a n r e c o l l e c t ... I t h i n k C o l o n e l P r i n s l o o ’s e v i d e n c e , h e s a i d h e a p p o i n t e d t h i s o n e t o h a v e c a s e a n d d e a l w i t h t h e s t o r a g e o f t h i n g s i n t h e s a f e . ... A s f a r a s I k n o w, t h e U n i t C o m m a n d e r c a n a p p o i n t a S A P 1 3 C l e r k ...”

If there is no OB entry or visit/check done as required, the Unit Commander is responsible and must take action.

“The Unit Commander, because his function is command and control of the unit. He needs to take actions.”

Witness I would report operational tip-offs to the Unit Commander, who was Colonel Bok at the relevant time, but also to other two full Colonels.

“If you had to inform someone... to the Unit Commander, Colonel Bok ... Not only him. Then there were three full Colonels.”

General Flynn confirmed Warrant Officer Mpangase was the investigating officer or 'owner' of the enquiry, with command and control responsibilities delegated to team leaders and higher-ranking officials.

“Indeed, the owner of the enquiry ... he is the investigating officer... but in terms of command and control, the responsibilities of the team leader... the Unit Commander, the Provincial Commander, as well as the Provincial Head...”

Investigating officers and commanders have a process to submit priority requests to Forensic Science Lab leadership to expedite analysis and storage of exhibits when capacity is limited.

“We have a process in place where we call a priority request. So , under these circumstances , a Provincial Commander or a Unit Commander or the Provincial Head is at liberty to submit a request to the leadership of the Forensic Science Laboratory and request , obviously depending on the sensitivity and the urgency of completing an investigation , to prioritize this matter”

A proforma document accompanies exhibits or samples handed over to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), typically signed by the Unit Commander to the Forensic Science Laboratory Commander for handling.

“there is a proforma document that need to be completed that accompany the actual exhibits or the samples that was obtained now to FSL”