safe

The safe was forcibly opened by grinding, not by using a key, indicating a crime scene that was not staged or done by design.

“This is a crime scene. The safe was grinded open. It was never opened by a key.”

Earlier, the witness was not concerned about the security of the building or safes where exhibits were stored because General Senona had the keys and the safe could not be breached without detection.

“Although I was too concerned, I thought the drugs will be safe because General Senona had the keys, and the safe could not be breached, and certainly not without being detected.”

General Senona had the keys to the safe and the safe could not be breached without being detected.

“General Senona had the keys, and the safe could not be breached and certainly not without being detected”

There was no alertness or alarm mechanism about the safe that would detect a breach attempt.

“No, there was no alertness. I concede there is an error on my part.”

When Colonel Prinsloo was contacted by Brigadier Nyuswa to make the safe available for transferring cocaine, guns were removed, cocaine was placed inside the safe, keys were handed over to Nyuswa, and an occurrence book entry made after they left, but the handing over form for keys was not completed.

“Once I was contacted by Brigadier Nyuswa to make the safe available for him to bring it ... We removed all the firearms, placed the drugs in there, and then the keys were handed to them. We made the OB entry after they had left ... No, we did not complete this form.”

At about 06:50 on 8 November 2021, Warrant Officer BJ Pienaar phoned LT-COL Prinsloo about a big problem, and upon going down the stairs, Prinsloo smelled a peculiar scent of ground metal or steel and discovered Pienaar's office trashed with the safe door half open, blue chair in the passage, locks ground off, and the passage covered in dark powdery substance with all exhibits taken.

“It was about 10 to 7, Warrant Officer BJ Pienaar phoned me and said we had a big problem and I must come down to his office. As I was starting to walk down the steps, I could smell a peculiar scent / smell, which you normally have when metal has been grinded open with a metal or steel grinder. When I got down, I saw that Pienaar's office was trashed. I also noticed that the safe door was standing half way open and the blue chair which was inside the safe was standing outside in the passage and that both locks were grinded off. The passage was covered in dark powdery substance. I walked to the safe and saw that all the exhibits was taken.”

The presence of R380,000 in cash in the safe appears to be explained by documentation created to explain the money and not the actual sale.

“Because what this looks to me from the outside is an attempt to explain the presence of R380 000 in cash in your safe. There are so many anomalies.”