Umlazi

Colonel Jacob considered that carrying exhibits to a less congested area at the far end of the CHC container depot posed certain risks but deemed it safer than conveying them to Isipingo SAP about four kilometers away, which is situated near Umlazi, a high-risk area. He also considered calling a tactical team to assist but decided against it due to their longer response time and preference for unpacking and counting at the police station to reduce risk.

“I considered possibly carrying these bags to a less congested area at the far end of the depot. In my opinion, the risk associated with conveying these exhibits to another part of the depot was greater than the risk of conveying the exhibits to Isipingo SAP, which is approximately four kilometers away from the depot. The depot is situated approximately 11 kilometers away from Umlazi, which is a high-risk area. I considered calling a tactical team to assist to secure the area, but decided against it as I knew their response time would be longer than I would have required. I also based this decision on the basis that the unpacking and counting at the police station would pose lesser risk.”

Colonel Jacob confirmed the risk of people from Umlazi forcibly approaching crime scenes near the CHC depot to take seized drugs, due to the depot's uncovered and exposed location.

“Umlazi is 11 kilometres away from the depot, which I saw as a risk... I fear that people from Umlazi might descend on the scene and possibly take away the drugs”

Colonel Jacob stated that he is not aware of any occasion where people from Umlazi forcibly removed drugs or other items discovered in a bust or search and seizure at the CHC depot.

“No that I am aware of, Chair”

Colonel Jacob explained that fear of people from Umlazi forcibly taking seized drugs is a real concern for any policeman during a seizure due to security issues and past attacks or robberies.

“That is always a concern of any policeman, when you do a seizure of this nature... your security is issues... every attack or every type of incident, there had to be a first time for everything”

Colonel Jacob does not agree that police alter their conduct of search and seizure operations around Umlazi due to fear of the people there.

“No... when ever you are involved, you go there, quickly remove the drugs and take them wherever you consider safe”

Chairperson accuses Colonel Jacob of self-creating a fear around Umlazi by failing to request reinforcements, thus purposely not mitigating his fears.

“So you choose not to even try. You go there, it is you, it is Mpangase and Sibiya ... because you never know. Trying, maybe you could have gotten reinforcement ... So it is self-created fear.”

Colonel Jacob admits that the fear of Umlazi being close by and the lack of reinforcements was a self-created and avoidable issue.

“I accept that.”

The Chairperson tendered an unreserved apology to the people of Umlazi for an unfortunate assertion implying they are unsophisticated regarding the notion of forcible taking of suspected cocaine from CHC Depot.

“I want to tender an apology to the people of Umlazi... I made an unfortunate assertion which implicitly meant that Umlazi people are unsophisticated ... I apologise unreservedly.”