Referred to as: Chief Mashabatha · Mashaba
No picture yet. Upload one or paste an image URL.
The truck had not yet arrived but was already in the Gauteng area and was expected to arrive early to potentially meet the owners at the depot before 6:30 AM.
“the truck had not arrived, but yet it was not far off. It was already in the Gauteng area... the reason why I maintained to Chief Mashabatha that we need to be there by 6.30, was a high possibility of obviously the owners coming through.”
Mr Nku shared coordinates of Yellow Jersey Logistics with Chief Mashabatha around midnight while still en route.
“I shared the coordinates to Yellow Jersey Logistics with Chief Mashabatha... around about 12 a.m., as I was still on my way back.”
Mr Nku forwarded a message to Chief Mashabatha with the coordinates to Yellow Jersey and a request to be there before 6:30 AM.
“you text or you forward a message to Chief Mashaba, sending him at least what appears to be the location or the coordinates to the Yellow Jersey in Roodepoort... you send a message that follows to say we need to go there, and lastly you mention the time where it says before 6.30.”
Initial plan was for Chief Mashabatha to arrange law enforcement agencies to intercept the truck at appropriate locations, possibly at weigh bridges.
“At that stage I expected Chief Mashaba, given the position within the DPCI, to arrange for the involvement of the appropriate law enforcement agencies and personnel... the truck could be tracked and intercepted at an appropriate location, including possibly at one of the weigh bridges along its route.”
Upon receipt of live truck tracking information, the plan was to engage Chief Mashabatha to intercept the truck at one of the weigh bridges before reaching Yellow Jersey depot.
“you are saying that had you received the information regarding the live tracking of the truck, then the initial plan was to engage Chief Mashaba to at least intercept the truck before it reaches Yellow Jersey? - At the weigh bridge... Yes, at one of the weigh bridges.”
Chief Mashabatha would have his team ready at the weigh bridge for the interception of the truck.
“and he would obviously by that time have his team ready.”
On the morning of 2021-07-09, Mr Nku met Chief Mashabatha and proceeded to Yellow Jersey where he observed Chief Mashabatha had arrived alone without law enforcement or operational support.
“On the morning of the 9th 2021, I met with Chief Mashabatha, we proceeded to Yellow Jersey. I was surprised to observe that Chief Mashabatha had arrived alone and was not accompanied by any visible team of law enforcement officials or operational support.”
Chief Mashabatha assured Mr Nku not to be concerned and that support was on its way, making several telephone calls.
“Chief Mashabatha informed me that I should not be concerned and assured me that support was on its way. He then made a number of telephone calls and thereafter repeated his assurance to me that the required support was coming.”
Chief Mashabatha and Warrant Officer Mogana went inside Yellow Jersey premises to follow up on the information and appeared to agree to open the container, witnessing black duffel bags fall out which matched previously sent pictures containing alleged drugs.
“Chief Mashaba and Warrant Officer Mogana went inside the premises of Yellow Jersey to follow up on the information I provided. Within a few minutes, the two came back and Mashaba told me to follow them... They seemed to have agreed to open the container. As soon as they opened the container, I witnessed black duffel bags falling off the container. These bags matched the pictures of the black duffel bags that were sent to me previously containing alleged drugs by Iby.”