Witness J

Witness J applied for an in-camera hearing citing safety and security concerns for himself and his family, the need to protect ongoing investigations, and to protect investigative methods.

“Witness J submitted to the Commission an application to be heard in complete camera, citing three reasons in the main. Safety and security concerns for himself and his family. The second is to protect investigative needs and ongoing investigation concerns. And the last is to protect investigative methods.”

The Chairperson ruled that Witness J's testimony will be heard in-camera and that transcripts will be redacted to protect Witness J's identity and ongoing investigations.

“The testimony of Witness J will be heard in-camera... The transcript must be redacted to protect the identity of Witness J and the integrity of ongoing investigations.”

Witness J confirmed that the statement he prepared for giving testimony before the Commission is truthful and authentic, dated June 11, 2026.

“I do confirm. The date... it is 2026 June 11. I confirm.”

Witness J was appointed by the South African Police Service as a student constable and underwent basic training at Police College, was posted to perform crime prevention duties at SAPS and later moved to SAPS.

“I was appointed by the South African Police Service as a student Constable, and underwent my basic training in Police College. I was then posted to perform crime prevention duties at SAPS and later moved to SAPS.”

During August 2021, Lieutenant Colonel Sebola requested an analysis of cellphone data linked to suspects involved in a drug case related to the Booysens CAS investigation.

“During the month of August 2021, I was asked by Lieutenant Colonel Sebola, who was then a Captain, Captain Sebola, where he requested that I do an analysis on the data extracted from handsets to determine if the suspects are in any way linking to each other and to the crime that they were charged to be as per Booysens CAS.”

Cellphone devices analyzed belonged to Tumelo Nku and were linked via social media and contact numbers to shipment of containers associated with the drug case.

“It then discovered that the cellphone devices belong to Mr Tumelo Nku and this was confirmed by the information contained in the devices. While analysing the devices off Tumelo Nku, I then discovered images, messages from social media applications, and contact numbers linking him to the shipment of containers.”

Three encrypted messaging applications - Threema, WhatsApp, and Telegram - were found on devices linked to the investigation and were used for communications related to the case.

“Encrypted messaging applications. I discovered the use of three encrypted messaging applications, Threema, WhatsApp, and Telegram...”

Analysis revealed screenshots from Threema app indicating usage by a user identified with the username 'John Wick' linked to the investigation.

“the right-hand side, that screenshot that has a blue colour, it has a username that says John Wick. Under that username it says Threema ID next to the red dots there. It says, That is a username of that particular person, who is using the username of John Wick. I mean, that is an ID of John Wick.”

The user ID on the black screen screenshot is confirmed to be the username of Tumelo Nku.

“On the black screen screenshot, I can confirm this is the username of Tumelo Nku.”

There was pressure to obtain a container by a certain date, with people assisting at the Port of Durban to release the container and its contents, despite no recorded out movement at court at the time.

“This user makes mention of heat that is coming, which suggests that there was pressure to obtain what was in the container. And again, the conversations, it is clear that the user had people who are sitting at the Port of Durban who were assisting to get the container and these contents released. The container was due to be picked up upon the 2021-05-1, as per the message of the unidentified user mentioning transporter is booked for tomorrow.”

Witness J explained how they profiled a phone number (starting with 27) used by a person linked to the South African Police Service (SAPS) system and Home Affairs population register.

“That is correct. The number starts with 27... it is a SAPS system... population register... information from Home Affairs”

There was a discussion of WhatsApp screenshots labeled WJ1 involving profiling by Boss.

“Witness J had explained that they went to the WhatsApp to go and profile by Boss”