Warrant Officer Rikhotso

Mr Nku explained the tension between different South African Police Service (SAPS) members as more police arrived, especially Warrant Officer Rikhotso, and he was later approached by Warrant Officer Mogoboya who inquired about his involvement and informed him General Khan was on his way.

“As more police arrived, in particular Warrant Officer Rikhotso, I noticed there was tension between different SAPS members. I was then later approached by Warrant Officer Mogoboya, who asked me what was my involvement, to which I told him that I was the source and then told me that General Khan was on his way.”

Warrant Officer Rikhotso was alleged to have stopped the dog unit from investigating the crime scene, according to sergeants Phakula and Sape.

“the person who stopped them from deploying their dog to investigate or to sniff around was, I think it is Warrant Officer Rikhotso”

Rikhotso could not be found and his information was missing from the docket, impeding investigation.

“they did not know where to find Rikhotso... We do not have the details of Rikhotso. We do not know where to find Rikhotso”

The person who stopped the dogs, Rikhotso, has nothing to do with the five accused in any event.

“even the person who stopped the dogs as Rikhotso, it has nothing to do with the five accused in any event”

Warrant Officer Rikhotso argued with Warrant Officer Phakula over opening an enquiry file with Rikhotso wanting an enquiry file opened but Phakula refusing and saying General Khan was on his way.

“A police officer later known as Warrant Officer Rikhotso arrived and had an argument with Warrant Officer Phakula ... Rikhotso did not want them to open a case, but to open an enquiry file. Warrant Officer Phakula refused, and he was then told that General Khan was on his way”

At a drug dealings scene on 9 July 2021 in Aeroton, Sebola was approached by Warrant Officer Rikhotso, who was with Colonel Maluleke, the Unit Commander of Johannesburg.

“And I was approached by Warrant Officer Rikhotso, who was at that time with Colonel Maluleke, the Unit Commander of Johannesburg.”

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.”

Warrant Officer Rikhotso was from the Serious Organized Crime section, now called NPVC, dealing specifically with cash-in-transit offenses, which are violent crimes.

“Warrant Officer Rikhotso was from Serious Organized Crime also, but he was at, we call it now NPVC, which was violent crimes. They were specifically dealing with the cash-in-transit offences”

Warrant Officer Rikhotso contacted LT-COLSebola saying his Colonel had phoned LT-COLSebola's office to ask for assistance to take over a chaotic scene.

“My Colonel phoned your office. My Colonel, he was referring to Colonel Maluleke. Can you please assist and take over, because what is happening here is a chaos”

Sergeant Ndou phoned his uncle, Warrant Officer Rikhotso, to inform him about the scene and the situation, and Rikhotso confirmed Sergeant Ndou's version that the vehicle was about to leave and had to be blocked.

“He phoned his uncle who is Warrant Officer Rikhotso, to say this is what the scene looks like. ... Sergeant Ndou gave me the very same picture that the reason why you seem stopping in front of this vehicle, it was about to leave, I had to block it.”

Warrant Officer Rikhotso pointed Lieutenant Colonel Sebola to the BMW vehicle at the scene with police officers.

“Warrant Officer Rikhotso pointed to me the BMW that he said , this BMW it is together with these police officers”

Warrant Officer Rikhotso pointed out a red Kia vehicle driven by Warrant Officer Phakula.

“He also pointed out the red Kia , which was driven by Warrant Officer Phakula”

Officer Sape from the Dog Unit stated that a yellow truck was transporting drugs from Durban Harbour and pointed out a truck driver under arrest; he was requested by Warrant Officer Phakula to search the truck and was distracted by an African male called Rikhotso who denied entry or exit from the scene.

“Warrant Officer Phakula asked me to search the truck... was distracted by an African male who was called Rikhotso ... they denied us entry or exiting the scene... accused us of coming to escort the drugs all the way from Pretoria.”

Warrant Officer Rikhotso from DPCI arrived, questioned the delay in registering an inquiry, and insisted immediate action was necessary based on information received that morning.

“I was later informed that the name of the gentleman was Warrant Officer Rikhotso from DPCI . Warrant Officer Rikhotso further asked if I had an enquiry registered for that operation and I told him there was no time to first drive to Pretoria to register an enquiry and then drive back to the scene as the delay would have defeated the purpose . The information was received that same morning and I had to act on information first.”

Captain Rikhotso approached Warrant Officer Phakula and tried to take charge of the scene, giving instructions to two Booysen police officers to give statements, despite Warrant Officer Phakula being the crime scene manager at the time.

“Captain Rikhotso ... came in and start giving instructions to the two Booysen police officers to give him statements ... I was still the crime scene manager”

Warrant Officer Phakula stated that others involved included Captain Rikhotso and Lieutenant Colonel Maluleke, the latter being the person he planned to eventually hand over the scene to.

“I was planning to hand over the scene to Lieutenant Colonel Maluleke”

Warrant Officer Rikhotso from Crime Intelligence caused obstruction by questioning the authority or enquiry file permissions at the scene, distracting the team from their work, and mentioning Major General Feroz Khan was coming to the scene.

“Warrant Officer Rikhotso from Crime Intelligence ... started asking if we have any authority or any enquiry file registered ... was causing some obstruction and distraction ... specifically said Major General Feroz Khan from Crime Intelligence was coming to the scene ... so we ignored him and proceeded with our duties ... a lot of police members, security officers and civilian members at the scene made it difficult to work.”

Brigadier Nkhwashu states that colleagues and friends accompanied Sergeant Tshukudu, including Warrant Officer Rikhotso and Lt-Col Khalo, but they were not the ones escorting suspects to the jurisdiction.

“Among them, I remember there is Warrant Officer Rikhotso, and there is Lt-Col Khalo ... Those were the people that we often meet in the stokvel, and they were there in that stokvel.”

Warrant Officer Rikhotso and Lt-Col Khalo were present at the stokvel with Sergeant Tshukudu, they were not escorting suspects but were present during the conversations.

“So it was Warrant Officer Rikhotso and Lt-Col Khalo as well as Sergeant Tshukudu at the stokvel, yes.”

Brigadier Nkhwashu says the conversation at the drinking place was informal and that Sergeant Tshukudu was not part of the escorting team but his colleagues were, who started the conversation about the case.

“this conversation was not of a formal nature... I have learned that Sergeant Tshukudu was not part of the escorting team, but Warrant Officer Rikhotso and them... they were part and started this conversation...”