management

Investigators do not independently choose their projects; project assignments and team composition decisions are made by management including chiefs, DPPs, and the Head of office, Mr Sesoko.

“the investigators do not have a say or they do not choose which project they belong to. So what will actually happen is the, let me just call them management, the upper level where chiefs, DPPs, and the Head of office, and Mr Sesoko sits. They are the ones that decide who belongs where, who is going to work where”

The chargesheet and supporting note are presented to the Deputy Director of the team for verification, who then presents it to management for approval before the matter is enrolled in court and prosecution begins.

“That chargesheet and the memo is presented to the Deputy Director of that team. He looks at it to see that, okay, the facts, the evidence is supported by facts ... That is then now taken to management, is presented before management, management will decide ... the matter is ready to be enrolled.”

COLONEL PADAYACHEE admits that the referral was sent to management who approved the section 27 referral and authorized the section 28 (13) preliminary investigation, and that he took his cue from there.

“this referral was sent to management who approved the section 27 referral and then authorized a section 28 (13) preliminary investigation. So I take my cue from there when that preliminary investigation is initiated”

Management, specifically the head of office together with her management team, makes the decision to investigate the allegations and authorizes the investigation which is then carried out by officers on the ground.

“Management would be the head of the office and her management on that level, like your committee or your management which … but it is the head of office together with her management that make the decisions.”

Colonel Padayachee does not have sight of the section 27 referral affidavit initially and relies on verbal briefing from his chief criminal investigator who directs the investigation team.

“The section 27 referral, I do not see it. ... My end where I come in is the designation 28(13). It comes up to say I am now appointed on this preliminary investigation. ... The chief criminal investigator who we report to ... has the puzzle of what this whole allegation investigation is about. He briefs us, and we follow his directives from there ... we are the work soldiers out there. Management make a decision, authorize it, it comes down, we comply.”

Warrant Officer Sander alleges management did not like his corruption investigation involving theft of exhibits, missing exhibits, and missing dockets, resulting in him applying unsuccessfully for transfer to Durban Central charge office.

“Prior to me being moved, this investigation of the corruption, myself and my immediate Commander were not seeing eye to eye due to, let us just say, there was allegations of theft of exhibits, exhibits going missing, dockets going missing. ... I filed a complaint like that. ... And I do not think management took like to that. That would have been the start. I then applied for a transfer from the DPCI to Organised Crime at the provincial head office ... I applied to go as an Investigator at Durban Central ... that application was changed to Durban Central charge office and the transfer was approved not to, so remember the question is being asked now, do you have scarce skills? Yes. Are you an Investigator? Yes. ...”

Management and admin people occupy the top floor, and they use the sidestep entrance to their offices, which prevents them from knowing what is happening downstairs.

“All the management as well as the admin people are on the top floor. That is correct. If they go up the sidestep into their offices, they would not know what is happening downstairs, is that your understanding? You are correct, Commissioner.”