Isipingo SAPS

Exhibits from the drug seizure were transported to Isipingo SAPS for safe keeping, where they were unloaded and recounted, photos were taken and the exhibits were entered in the SAP 13 register under instructions of Lieutenant Colonel Jacob.

“Exhibits were loaded in the Hyundai H1 and transported to Isipingo SAPS with the sole intention of storing them there for safe keeping...I then personally entered the exhibits in the SAP 13 register at Isipingo as instructed by Lieutenant Colonel Jacob.”

The exhibit clerk at Isipingo SAPS said there was no space to keep the exhibits, leading Lieutenant Colonel Jacob to organize their transport to Port Shepstone for storage.

“The exhibit clerk asked me a strange question. He wanted to know where we were going to keep the exhibits...He told me that he had no space to keep the exhibits there...Lieutenant Colonel Jacob started making calls to look for a place to store the exhibits...After talking to Brigadier Nyuswa, Lieutenant Colonel Jacob told me that we must take the exhibits to Port Shepstone storage.”

Warrant Officer Mpangase informed that Isipingo SAPS did not have exhibit bags and the exhibits were booked out again, which was a concern as it compromised chain of custody but was accepted because Mpangase was with the exhibits throughout.

“He informed me that Isipingo SAPS did not have exhibit bags but that the exhibits were entered into the Isipingo SAPS and booked out again. This was a concern for me because, as an investigator, I knew that the chain of custody must be preserved. However, since I was informed that Warrant Officer Mpangase had remained with the exhibit throughout, the chain of custody was preserved.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Jacobi instructed members to proceed to Isipingo SAPS and requested members from ORS Durban Harbour for assistance.

“Lieutenant Colonel Jacobi informed us that we should proceed to Isipingo SAPS. He requested members from ORS Durban Harbour to assist.”

Approximately 541 bricks of suspected cocaine were counted and booked out as exhibits at Isipingo SAPS by Warrant Officer Mpangase.

“The total number of the bricks from the 27 bags was 541 bricks suspected Cocaine. All the exhibits were entered in the Isipingo SAP 13373/2021 by Warrant Officer Mpangase and booked them out.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Jacobs informed Brigadier Nyuswa about the unavailability of storage space at Isipingo SAPS, and the exhibit was to be kept at Port Shepstone Organized Crime Unit walk-in safe.

“Lieutenant Colonel Jacobs indicated that he has informed Brigadier Nyuswa about the issue of unavailability of storage at Isipingo SAPS. After some time, Lieutenant Jacob informed us that the exhibit will be kept at Port Shepstone Organized Crime Unit walk-in safe.”

Lieutenant Colonel Jacob informed personnel to proceed to Isipingo SAPS and requested assistance from ORS Harbour members.

“Lieutenant Colonel Jacob informed us that we should proceed to Isipingo SAPS. He requested members from ORS Harbour to assist us.”

Colonel Jacob reads from Govender's second statement where he states they transferred 27 black bags containing about 20 cocaine bricks each, escorted by Lt. Colonel Jacob and his team to Isipingo SAPS where they offloaded bags and counted bricks before leaving the scene.

“Sergeant Mkhize and I, together with other DPCI members, transferred these black bags from the container to an H1 marked state vehicle that I was driving. I counted 27 such bags. We were escorted by Lieutenant Colonel Jacob and his team to Isipingo SAP, where we assisted in offloading the black bags... The DPCI members were busy counting the yellow and black bricks of suspected Cocaine when we left the scene... each bag contained approximately 20 such bricks. We then left the scene and proceeded with our normal duties.”

Numerous black canvas bags containing seven bricks of suspected cocaine were found at the container entrance, inspected by DPCI in Lt-Col Duma's presence, and the exhibits were conveyed to Isipingo SAPS by ORS.

“numerous black canvas bags were noticed at the entrance of the container. These bags were inspected by DPCI in my presence and found to contain bricks of suspected Cocaine. 7 bags were discovered ... exhibits were conveyed to Isipingo SAPS by ORS”

Lt-Col Duma states he did not know where the exhibits were stored after recovery, only that they were at Isipingo SAPS until he read about the theft in the news.

“I did not know where the exhibits were stored after the recovery. All I knew was that they were at Isipingo SAPS until I read about the theft in the news article.”

The seized 547 kg Mandrax exhibits were booked at Isipingo SAPS and submitted to the Main Forensic Science Laboratory in Silverton on 12 November 2021, where it was confirmed to be Mandrax; the case is under investigation by Durban under a reference number.

“The exhibits were booked in at the Isipingo SAPS under a reference number. And then the exhibits were submitted to the Main Forensic Science Laboratory in Silverton on 12 November 021. FSL confirmed that the exhibits were Mandrax and the case was investigated by Durban under a certain reference number.”

If exhibits were left at Isipingo SAPS, the responsibility for the exhibits would be with the station commander and the SAP 13 clerk to keep them secure.

“it would have been the responsibility of the station commander and obviously the SAP 13 clerk to ensure that the exhibits are kept behind lock and key”

Warrant Officer Perumal did not keep exhibits in his safe custody but immediately booked them out due to lack of storage space at Isipingo SAPS.

“So , it means that Warrant Officer Perumal did not keep the exhibits in his safe custody . It was booked out immediately . ... According to the officers , there was not sufficient space at the Isipingo SAPS to store the exhibits . According to Warrant Officer Perumal no enquiry was made with him regarding capacity to store the exhibits in the armoury at Isipingo SAPS .”

Officers attending the crime scene decided to process exhibits at the Isipingo SAPS because the crime scene was busy and needed to be secured by cordoning off.

“The officers attending to the crime scene alleged that the crime scene became busy and therefore the decision was made to process the exhibits at the Isipingo SAPS. However, the officers had to secure the integrity of the crime scene by cordoning it off.”

The exhibits included 541 bricks of cocaine weighing approximately 1 kilogram each, which were entered into Isipingo with a reference number. Warrant Officer Perumal indicated there was no space to store such volume of narcotics at Isipingo, and a provincial office was notified of the lack of storage at the station and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).

“The exhibits were counted by the members, and it was established that there were 541 bricks of cocaine, weighing approximately 1 kilogram each... Warrent Officer Perumal of Isipingo SAPS indicated that they did not have space to store such volume of narcotics. A provincial office was notified of the lack of storage facility at the station and at FSL.”

Seized exhibits of 547 kg Mandrax booked in at Isipingo SAPS armory, a police station known not to have capacity, and unclear why 541 kg of cocaine could not be stored there six months later.

“The exhibits, 547 kilograms, were booked in at Isipingo SAPS and kept in the armoury, the same police station that apparently is known not to have capacity”