Booysen SAPS

Private security and Booysen SAPS arrived at the scene and reported a complaint about bogus cops but accepted identities upon verification.

“Privatesecurity and Booysens SAPS then came into where we were parked. The SAPS members found me standing with Warrant Officer Magane outside waiting for Warrant Officer Phakula. They informed us that they got a complaint about bogus cops members. We then introduced ourselves to the two police officers, and they were satisfied with our identities.”

Warrant Officer Magane states that contrary to suggestions, Booysen's bakkie did not block him from leaving the scene; he was not inside his vehicle and approached Booysen's team actively; Booysen's officers assisted him in securing the scene and they were cooperating.

“At no stage Commissioners that I intended to leave the scene ... there is a narrative that was being pushed that I was blocked by Booysen's bakkie ... when they arrive, I was not even in the car ... Booysen are the one who actually helped me to cordon off the scene. So, we were working together. They were assisting.”

Warrant Officer Magane states that he was going to take the 23 drug bags to Alberton and had counted and taken a picture of them for his superior before loading them onto his vehicle.

“You put them onto, you back up your van to the trailer, to the container ... there are 23 bags ... you had even taken a picture to send to your superior ... you are going to take them somewhere ... to Alberton in fact ... if Booysens had not arrived, you would have taken them to Alberton ...”

Brigadier Jones, Station Commander of Booysen, raised safety concerns about the exhibits because of a large number of visitors and demonstrations outside the police station over the weekend.

“He firstly indicated to me that this arrest of these four people drew a lot of attention... he called it a large number of visitors throughout the weekend... even demonstrations outside the police station”