Deputy Chief Director Samuel Mashaba

On 9 July 2021 at about 06:25 a.m., Warrant Officer Magane received a call from Deputy Chief Director Samuel Mashaba of Gauteng Traffic Police regarding information about a truck allegedly carrying drugs near Roodekop next to Leondale area under Alberton SAPS. Warrant Officer Magane was unable to assist immediately but promised to try to get members from the Dog Unit. He called Sergeant Maja from SAPS Ekurhuleni K9 Dog Unit but was told Maja was sleeping as he had worked a night shift previously. Warrant Officer Magane clarified that Sergeant Maja is from SAPS Ekurhuleni K9, not Ekurhuleni Metropolitan K9.

“It was on Friday, the 9th of July 2021 at approximately 06:25 a.m. when I received a call from Chief Samuel Mashaba. Chief Samuel Mashaba works at Gauteng Traffic Police and holds the rank of a Deputy Chief Director. Chief Mashaba called me regarding information about a truck which was allegedly carrying or transporting drugs. He was asking me for assistance or manpower and so to say in order to follow that information. According to his information, the alleged truck was somewhere around Roodekop, next to Leondale area, which falls under Alberton SAPS. It told Chief Mashaba that I was still busy at my station, at Zonkizizwe, so I was not able to assist him immediately, but I promised him that I would try some members that I know from Dog Unit. In this regard, I called Sergeant Maja from Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Department Dog Unit, which is EMPD K9. But he unfortunately told me that he was sleeping as he worked a night shift the previous night. It then called Chief Mashaba back to give feedback from Sergeant Maja.””

Warrant Officer Magane knew Deputy Chief Director Samuel Mashaba prior to the incident as an acquaintance through a former colleague; they were not friends but sometimes met at parties.

“I met Chief Mashaba through a colleague of mine. I would simply say Mashaba it is an acquaintance person. We were not friends, but we used or, but we used to meet maybe when there is a party or, but I met him through a former colleague. That is how I knew him.”

When Warrant Officer Magane received the call from Chief Mashaba, 'manpower' referred to other police officers to come and assist because Chief Mashaba was alone and requested support; also, Mashaba asked him to come and assist himself if available.

“Manpower, he actually wanted other members to come and assist him. He requested other police officers to come and assist him and because he was alone... No, he was also asking me to come and assist if I am available.”