Sergeant Ndou

Sergeant Ndou's marked police vehicle was parked in front of a black Nissan bakkie, indicating upon arrival the three officers wanted to leave with black bags behind the bakkie, saying that they were taking them to where the truck came from, Roodekop.

“Sergeant Ndou’s marked police vehicle was parked in front of the black Nissan bakkie, indicating that upon his arrival, the three mentioned officers wanted to leave with those black bags behind the bakkie, saying that they were taking them to where the truck came from, which is Roodekop.”

Colonel Maluleke contacted General Kadwa, and they suspected that the bags in a black Nissan bakkie contained drugs but could not take over the scene, so LT-COLSebola had to speak to Sergeant Ndou, the driver of the marked Booysen bakkie.

“Colonel Maluleke contacted General Kadwa, and they are suspecting bags in the black Nissan bakkie are drugs. They could not take over the scene, and therefore I must talk to driver of the marked Booysen bakkie, to whom I introduced myself as Sergeant Ndou”

Sergeant Ndou was the official custodian in charge of the scene when LT-COL Sebola was called in.

“The person who still is the custodian of the scene is Sergeant Ndou.”

Lt-Col Sebola confirms that only Magane and Mashaba were the first police officers on the scene, and they were blocked from leaving by Ndou and his colleague.

“That is correct, Commissioner. They are the one who blocked. There were no other police that I was told that they give such instruction to, either to stop or to drive out.”

Sergeant Ndou reported to the 10111 desk that drugs were discovered and the driver was arrested, but did not mention any crime involving police officers trying to leave with the drugs, which seems to misrepresent the true nature of the event.

“even when Sergeant Ndou gives a report back to the 1011 desk, he does not mention that there is a crime happening, i.e. police officers trying to leave with the drugs. Instead, it looks like he is reporting back that there is an operation happening where police have discovered drugs and that the truck driver has been arrested .”

People who mentioned the bakkie trying to leave, such as Mogoboya, only heard this third-hand. Walker from Scania also did not mention any attempt by the bakkie to leave when arriving with Ndou and Makumbila.

“people who mentioned the bakkie trying to leave are not the ones that were there at the time. So, for example, Mogoboya also hears it third-hand that the bakkie was trying to leave. Maybe another important person to note is Walker from Scania who arrives at the same time with Ndou and Makumbila. He, too, mentions nothing about the truck trying to leave, the bakkie trying to leave .”

It is expected that the initial report by Sergeant Ndou to the control centre would state if it was a legitimate operation, including that those called to the scene could be sent away because the operation was clear.

“when you are the first member at the scene, the people that were called to the scene, or one should say, if indeed there was a legitimate operation, normally, after this feedback by Sergeant Ndou to 10111, what should have happened was for Ndou to say all those who were called to the scene can cancel because the operation is clean .”

Sergeant Ndou phoned his uncle, Warrant Officer Rikhotso, to inform him about the scene and the situation, and Rikhotso confirmed Sergeant Ndou's version that the vehicle was about to leave and had to be blocked.

“He phoned his uncle who is Warrant Officer Rikhotso, to say this is what the scene looks like. ... Sergeant Ndou gave me the very same picture that the reason why you seem stopping in front of this vehicle, it was about to leave, I had to block it.”

Sergeant Ndou's explanation of the event given at the time to the radio receiving end differs from the written statements given later, which is concerning given the contemporaneous nature of the radio communication.

“his explanation differs to what now he is writing under oath. It is indeed concerning.”

The report by Sergeant Ndou at 11:23:22 AM stated the truck was being escorted by police and it was not a hijacking, which differs from the original report of a truck hijacking.

“That report back that you were discussing now, you see where I am? That report back that you were discussing now is it is not a truck hijacking .”

In the disciplinary hearings of General Khan, Magane, and Phakula, it was said that Khan instructed them to sit in a black motor vehicle (bakkie), and the person identified by Ndou as trying to drive away was actually sitting in the bakkie.

“in the disciplinary hearing of General Khan, Magane, Phakula... they say that Khan instructed them to go and sit in the bakkie ... the person that Ndou pointed out as the person who was trying to drive away, he was in fact sitting in the bakkie”

Two members from Booysens VISPOL, Sergeant Ndou and Constable Makwambiri, arrived and reported receiving a 10111 call about people impersonating police officers.

“two members from Booysens VISPOL, Sergeant Ndou and Constable Makwambiri arrived in a marked police bakkie and told us that they have received a call from 10111 about people who were impersonating to be police officers”

Warrant Officer Magane was made to sit in a car and photographed as if he were a suspect during the police operation at the warehouse, while drugs were being counted with some bags already opened, and several senior officers were in charge of the counting.

“I was made to sit in the car while I was photographed as if I am a suspect. Members of DPCI from Germiston and Johannesburg arrived at the scene with Major General Kadwa, the Provincial Head of DPCI. There seems to have been a briefing between Major General Khan, Brigadier Sekgobela, Lieutenant Colonel Mabaso and Captain Sebola. Right after that, Warrant Officer Phakula, Chief Mashaba, Mr Nkua and myself were arrested and put at the back of a Booysens SAPS bakkie which was driven by Sergeant Ndou and Constable Makwambiri. We were kept at the back of the bakkie for some time. At some stage, we were then taken from the back of the bakkie to observe the counting of the drugs. To our surprise, we find that already 10 bags were already opened. Brigadier Sekgobela, Captain Dale, Captain Sebola, the arresting officer, are the ones who were in charge of the counting, in counting the drugs.”

Advocate De Kock decided to withdraw the matter because photographs clearly showed no vehicle blocking the way for the accused's vehicle at the scene.

“this talks to the reasons as to why Advocate De Kock decided to withdraw the matter: "Captain Sebola allegedly alleged that Sergeant Ndou's marked police vehicle was parked in such a way to block the way for Magane's vehicle... It is clear from the photographs that there was no vehicle blocking the way for Magane's vehicle not to leave the scene."”

Sergeant Ndou was in charge at the scene when Colonel Steyn arrived and handed over the scene to him, after which Colonel Steyn interviewed all suspects and obtained their explanations.

“He was introduced to Sergeant Ndou, who was in charge, and handed the scene over to him. The scene was explained, as well as those implicated. He was informed by Sergeant Ndou that the members wanted to leave the scene, and he parked his vehicle in front of the Nissan. He interviewed all the suspects and obtained their explanations.”

The radio conversation on the day began at 08:23 and involved contacts between Zulu 1 Desk 4 and Bravo Sierra Control, with Sergeant Ndou as Bravo Sierra 2 Control.

“The actual radio conversation is transcribed. And it begins, and this is important because what it does is it starts to give us a timeline on the day of when things began to happen. So here, the radio conversation begins at 08:23 in the morning, is that correct? According to the record, yes. At 08:23 and 30 seconds am: 'Zulu 1 Desk 4 Mike called Bravo Sierra 2 Control.'”

Sergeant Ndou went to the scene, responded to the call, and reported back what had happened.

“Sergeant Ndou went to the scene and that he was reporting back that this is what happened rather than Mashaba relaying it via Sergeant Ndou ... He goes to the scene. He responds to the call.”