Aeroton

General Khan sent a message stating that 552 blocks of pure cocaine with an estimated street value of R20,000,000 were seized at business premises in Aeroton, whereas standard records reflect the seizure involved 541 kilograms.

“General Khan is sharing with you details about a bust he was involved in a tabusiness premises in Aeroton. Here is the date of the 9th of July. Second paragraph, we have dealt, we have had testimony regarding that bust. It involved, on record, the seizure of 541 kilograms of Cocaine. You might have heard about it, or perhaps not, but what I state to you is factually correct. I am interested in what General Khan says to you at midway the second paragraph, and he states that: “552 blocks of pure Cocaine were seized with a street value of approximately R20 000 000.” Why it strikes me is we have always known that Aeroton bust to involve 541 kilograms, and that General Khan was a part of that eventual seizure. I find it interesting that in a message to you, he has got a slightly different weight of 52 blocks.”

MR NKU states he was a source of information at the Aeroton scene and did not participate in operational decisions or searches, except when instructed by General Feroz Khan to step out of his vehicle.

“My presence at the scene was limited to that of a source of information / informant... I did not participate in any operational decisions, searches or handling of any items... except when instructed by police officials to step out namely General Feroz Khan.”

Chief Mashaba instructed MR NKU to get out of his vehicle and introduced Warrant Officer Mogana, briefing him on the information; they proceeded to inspect the truck carrying the container in Aeroton.

“Chief Mashaba instructed me to get out of the vehicle. He introduced the gentleman who was driving alone as Warrant Officer Mogana. I also briefed him on the information and they proceeded to drive towards the depot... then they returned and indicated that they will inspect the truck in Aeroton.”

MR NKU observed the opening of the container and black bags falling near the wheels of the trailer at Aeroton.

“I observed the container being opened and black bags falling near the wheels of the trailer from which they fell.”

Mr Nku requested to leave the scene at Aeroton before the arrival of Warrant Officer Phakula, and asked Chief Mashaba to leave as well, citing waiting for the Crime Scene Manager who might have questions for Chief Mashaba.

“I requested to leave . I requested Chief Mashaba to leave . And the reason provided was wait for the Crime Scene Manager, he might have questions for you .”

Mr Nku says if he wanted to be part of the operation, he would have done so from the start at Yellow Jersey, not joining later at Scania without prior discussions.

“If I really wanted to be part, then why not do it at the first instance? Why not be part where – because where I provided information, I am certain that everything is there inside, in Yellow Jersey. I should have been part from the onset. I should have went in with them. That is where I feel that if I needed or wanted to be part, I should have rather been part at Yellow Jersey, not after the fact at Scania. Because I never had any prior discussions regarding Scania. I was just told after the fact when moving out that we are going to Aeroton.”

MR NKU carried a huge amount of cash in his car on the 9th, which was questioned as it might have been for reasons other than those he gave, such as paying tolls discreetly or for fuel.

“once you have all these difficulties , that tends to suggest that you having that much money in your car at Aeroton on the 9th may well be that you had that cash for some other reason , not the reason that you have given us .”

There was a successful extraction of data from May 24th referring to a container recovered in Aeroton.

“From page 15, if we checked the date, it is May. So it is May the 24th. So I suspect there was another container before this conversation of the 1st of April. And I will say this, this conversation talks about the container that was recovered in Aeroton.”

The conversation on the 1st relates to the container recovered in Aeroton, which was the last Threema conversation about that container.

“This conversation of the 1st. Yes. It relates to the container that was recovered in Aeroton. This is the last Threema conversation regarding the container in Piers, or Pier 1 or Pier 2. So this is the last one where they talk.”

Payment was discussed for the container recovered on 31 May, indicating a successful extraction context.

“Payment was discussed on that container which was retrieved on the 31st of May. Yes, payment was...”

Images found on Tumelo Nku's phone included a computer screen with a Transnet logo matching a Yellow Jersey Logistics truck found at the crime scene in Aeroton.

“There were images discovered from Tumelo Nku's phone of a computer screen with a Transnet logo ... The details on the image were compared to the Yellow Jersey Logistics truck found on the crime scene at Aeroton”

The registration and company name of the Yellow Jersey Logistics truck found at Aeroton match those seen on the image found on Tumelo Nku's phone, confirming he had information about the truck and container.

“The registration and the company name is the same as it appears on the computer screen ... This confirms what was on Tumelo's phone”

Chief Mashaba saw bags seized at Aeroton on 9 July 2021, which appear to be the same bags as those in the dated images on Nkusa's phone.

“you saw those bags on the 9th of July ... does that look like the same bags?”

Chief Mashaba confirms that Mr Nkua accompanied him from Yellow Jersey to Aeroton to avoid misunderstandings about information he provided to others.

“Mr Nkua asked me that will it be a problem for me to accompany you guys, because other informations that I gave to other people, I get to be told they were unsuccessful or I get to be told stories or excuses. Can I come with you guys? I said, I do not see this as a problem because I know I have worked with a lot of police that comes with their informers. The only thing I said to him, please make sure you sit in your car and you do not participate.”

Jolene Wentzel's statement describes police officers demanding escort paperwork for a container at Scania, which they did not have, leading to the arrest of Wentzel and others on suspicion of possession without proper paperwork.

“They told him that they do not have the paperwork. Clinton then told me that he told them to escort the container to the client in Aeroton and that is where it will be opened. ... The tall police officer further said that myself and Cornelius, including the driver, that we were under arrest.”

Witness I left Pretoria with Masoma to a scene in Aeroton and was going to verify information, not to execute an operation.

“when we left, it was not for execution. It was to check and verify. It was like it was information-checking... we arrived... it is the same quantity as Masoma received the message.”

Witness I deliberately misled their superior by telling them they were going to Johannesburg High Court when they instead were going to an operation scene to legitimize an unlawful operation and conceal their true purpose.

“You made a decision not to inform the Acting Unit Commander that you are going to Aeroton because ... you are hiding from her for wrong reasons ... you told her that you had gone to the High Court ... You arrive at the scene ... you do not speak to DPCI who have jurisdiction ... you speak to Phakula ... this conduct up to this point is calculated conduct ... to legitimise an unlawful operation ...”

Upon opening the container at Scania in Aeroton, police found black bags containing drugs and started a search to secure and count evidence.

“When the container opened, black bags started falling down. At that point, we realized that the tip-off was indeed correct. There were drugs in those bags.”

Only one container, which came from Durban and ended up in Aeroton, was at issue for search, not three containers.

“we have one container that comes up from Durban and ends up in Aeroton, and that is the container that is at issue...”

IPID had information indicating General Khan may have been involved in the commission of an offence on 9 July 2021 at Aeroton involving defeating the ends of justice either by action or omission.

“The IPID have certain information in its disposal , indicating that you may have been involved in the commission of an offence committed on the 9th of July 2021 at Aeroton , either by action or omission , defeating the ends of justice .”

Assistant Director Maphosho posed detailed questions to General Khan concerning the crime scene attendance, knowledge about the crime scene, the complaint, roles in the investigation, arrest at Booysens on case CAS 98/7/2021, charges against the suspect, information about the truck driver and cargo receiver, the origin of the drugs, and the outcome of case Booysens CAS 8/7/2021.

“On or about 9th July 2021 , did you attend the crime scene at Aeroton ? ... What was the role at the crime scene and throughout the entire investigations ? Who effected the arrest at the scene of Booysens on CAS 98/7/2021 and what was the charges brought against the suspect and what informed the charges ? ... Was the origin of the drugs ever established during your investigations ? What happened to the case in question , Booysens CAS 8/7/2021 ?”

The chats and communications between 1st and 8th July relate to the Booysens shipment investigation and include information about drug shipments and piers at the harbour near Aeroton.

“based on the investigation that we have done, I know what was communicated in here”

Mr Nku was communicating in chats in the week leading up to the Aeroton bust about drugs, shipments, and piers at the harbour.

“Mr Nku is communicating with somebody in the week leading up to this date and they are talking about drugs and shipments and piers at the harbour”

The computer screenshot shows Transnet details and is linked to drug details found in Aeroton.

“we can see at the bottom there, it will also indicate Transnet ... the details on the computer is the details of this drug that is found in Aeroton”

Images served in the gallery of Tumelo Nku on 7 July 2021 showed three black bags similar to one found in a black bakkie at Aeroton, and the cell phone towers placed him in Durban with the container also in Durban on that date.

“On 2021-07-07 there were images served in the gallery of Tumelo Nku of three black bags which looked similar to the one found in the black bakkie at Aeroton ... The cell phone towers placed him that he was in Durban and the container was still in Durban.”

The pictures dated 7 July 2021 were retrieved from Mr Nku's phone and show items linked to suspicious activity at Aeroton two days before arrival there.

“And they were dated the 7th of July 2021 ... that would have been two days before they arrived at Aeroton ... the packages that were retrieved in Aeroton and loaded onto Warrant Officer Magane's bakkie.”

Brigadier Shibiri said he had a conversation with Mashaba regarding drug trafficking information at Aeroton and being accosted by members of SAPS Crime Intelligence and Hawks who wanted to arrest them.

“He said that he had a conversation with Mashaba, relating to the following upon information about drug trafficking at Aeroton and they were accosted by a member of SAPS Crime Intelligence, Hawks, and want to arrest them”

There is a suspicion that there could have been about three containers involved in an incident at Aeroton, one containing guns and another containing drugs.

“there could have been about three containers containing, I think other ones containing guns, the other one containing drugs as well”

From the evidence, there is only one container that came up at Aeroton as an issue, despite information suggesting there were more containers expected.

“from the evidence there is only one container that came up, or that is an issue in Aeroton”

Police officers at Aeroton escorted the truck driver and searched the container without his presence; the truck driver was told he was under arrest for transporting drugs but was not aware of the contents inside.

“He was escorted by the police to Aeroton and on arrival the container was received by Jolene , who asked him to put the container at the bay . He did not see who opened the container . When he alerted from the truck , he noticed the black bags being loaded from the container into the Nissan MP300 . At all , a guy who identified himself as a police officer informed him that he was under arrest for transporting drugs . He tried to explain to the police officer that he did not know what was inside the container .”

On 9 July 2021, Sebola received a call to attend to a complaint of drug dealings in Aeroton and informed Warrant Officers Phume and Machebe to go with him to the scene; because of COVID, Phume used another vehicle and drove with Machebe.

“In 2021-07-09, at about 11, I received a call that we must go to Aeroton to attend to a complaint of drug dealings. Then, I informed Warrant Officer Phume, Warrant Officer Machebe, to drive together and go to the scene. Since it was the year of Covid, Warrant Officer Phume opted to use other vehicle and drove with Warrant Officer Machebe.”

The truck at Aeroton suspected to be hijacked was actually being escorted by police and was not hijacked; drugs were found inside the truck and the driver will be arrested; only one suspect was identified.

“at that complaint, Aeroton truck hijacking, the truck was not hijacked. The truck was being escorted by the police. They suspected that there was something wrong under the truck and the truck was open and found drugs inside. The driver will be arrested. There is only one suspect.”

Warrant Officer Phakula has investigated drugs cases but was not involved in drug busts as large as the one at Aeroton on 9 July 2021.

“Yes, I can say I investigated drugs cases, but however, I was not involved in the drug busts as big as the one that I was involved in.”

The witness was working with Warrant Officer Magane on 9 July 2021 to arrest suspects involved with drugs in the Alberton area, with information suggesting the suspects might be going to the receiver of the cargo in Aeroton where a container was being opened.

“On that particular day, the 9 July 2021, Warrant Officer Magane informed me that he was following up upon information about the drugs and that he needed backup...they were in Aeroton and had opened the container already. He said there were black bags falling out of the container.”

After arriving at Alberton SAPS, the witness phoned Warrant Officer Magane to enquire how far they were and was told to drive through to assist in Aeroton, receiving a WhatsApp location of Omni Park Business Park.

“After spending about 15 minutes at Alberton SAPS waiting, I phoned Warrant Officer Magane to enquire how far are they, and he said I should rather drive through to assist in Aeroton. I requested him to share his location, and he sent a WhatsApp message with the name of the premises they were at, Omni Park Business Park.”

Warrant Officer Magane received a call from Chief Mashaba about the drugs container; Chief Mashaba had received the information from his informer. They first went to Roodekop at Yellow Jersey Logistics, found the container, then escorted it to Aeroton for an expected client.

“I was informed by Warrant Officer Magane that he received a call from Chief Mashaba about a container with drugs and Chief Mashaba received the information from Chief Mashaba's informer. They first went to Roodekop at Yellow Jersey Logistics and found the container there and then they escorted it to Aeroton so the client was expecting the order.”

The SAP13 pound referred to is located at Aeroton, Johannesburg.

“At Aeroton, yes”

When interference occurred, Phakula phoned others to find out how far things had progressed and was told to come to Aeroton.

“I am the one who phoned them to find out how far is it, and that is when he said I should come to Aeroton”

Warrant Officer Phakula never discussed what was going to happen with the exhibits in the back of the bakkie while at Aeroton because they were still waiting for Lieutenant Colonel Maluleka.

“we did not, because remember, we were still waiting for Lieutenant Colonel Maluleka to come”

Warrant Officer Marumo Joseph Magane was present at the beginning of a drug bust operation in Aeroton and received the tip-off to attend the drug bust.

“Warrant Officer Magane, who was right at the beginning when the tip-off was given to attend the drug bust”

Mr Hardug informed the team that the truck was destined for Aeroton at Scania, Aeroton, but Warrant Officer Magane did not know the specific location of Scania within Aeroton.

“he said this truck was destined for Aeroton, at Scania in Aeroton ... but I did not know the place where this, the place where Scania is located”

The operation involved following a truck allegedly carrying or transporting drugs to Aeroton, at Omnia Industrial Park, where a container was supposed to be delivered to Scania Warehouse.

“We then followed the track until we reached Aeroton, Omnia Industrial Park, where the container was supposed to be delivered at Scania Warehouse”

Warrant Officer Magane was driving a black Nissan bakkie with registration MPV 00 to Aeroton.

“when you went to Aeroton, you went there driving a black Nissan bakkie? I think it is MPV 00 ... That is correct”

Warrant Officer Magane escorted a yellow Volvo truck from Roodekop to Aeroton; it was already parked next to Scania's loading bay and belongs to a different company.

“the Volvo truck that you escorted from Roodekop to Aeroton was yellow in colour... The one that we escorted was already parked next to Scania loading bay. These are two different companies.”

The drugs and suspect were planned to be booked at Booysens Police Station, not Alberton, because the drugs were found in Aeroton, the scene of the crime.

“The drugs were going to be booked at Booysens. And the suspect was going to be booked at Booysens.”

Warrant Officer Magane arranged with Warrant Officer Phakula to follow the truck until it reaches Aeroton and then call Phakula to come through, instead of meeting at Alberton.

“the arrangement was that we follow the truck up until it reaches Aeroton. And upon verification of the information, then I will call Warrant Officer Phakula to come through.”

Warrant Officer Magane did not fully appreciate the magnitude and seriousness of the situation at Aeroton and admits to committing many errors and oversights because of it.

“WARRANT OFFICER MAGANE, ADV MOSIKILI”

The drug bust in Aeroton involved approximately 715 kilograms of cocaine.

“715 kilograms, yes”

The seized bricks of suspected cocaine were packed in exhibit bags after being counted and photographed at the Scania premises in Aeroton.

“the bricks were then sealed in official exhibit bags ... at the Scania premises in Aeroton”

The radio communication included a report about a truck hijacking at Aeroton involving drugs found inside the truck, which was escorted by police, and only one suspect was involved; the driver was to be arrested but was later not arrested.

“'Bravo Sierra 12 said yes. Bravo Sierra 2 at that complaint Aeroton truck hijacking. The truck was not hijacked. The truck was being escorted by police. They suspected that there was something wrong under the truck and that the truck was opened and found drugs inside the truck. The driver will be arrested. There is only one suspect.' The driver of the truck was not arrested as we came to learn, is that not so? That is correct, Commissioner.”

COLONEL STEYN was contacted by Major General Kadwa about a large consignment of drugs found in a shipping container truck at Scania Trucks premises in Aeroton to attend with his team.

“On Friday, 2021-07-09 ... I received a call from the Provincial Head, DPCI Gauteng, Major General Kadwa ... The General informed me ... a large consignment of drugs was found in the back of a container truck (shipping container)”

Wood's sketch of the Aeroton scene was drawn later in the day than photographs showing a black bakkie with black bags and a marked police vehicle parked in front of it.

“You will see a photograph of the black bakkie with the black bags on top of it . . . also in front of that ... a marked police vehicle parked right in front of it . . . Wood's sketch was only done at a particular point in the day . . .”

Warrant Officer Phakula arrived at the Aeroton scene separately from others and was believed to have been genuinely trying to investigate the scene but was subjected to arrest, potentially constituting a premature arrest.

“Warrant Officer Phakula was genuinely trying to investigate the scene, but then was subjected to the arrest and all of that, and perhaps that was the comment about the premature arrest”

In October 2021, an allegation was made that the Forensic Science Laboratory was contacted to expedite the analysis report but the FSL did not have space to store exhibits; no attempts were made to increase security or move the cocaine to a more secure location after an attempted break-in, despite prior significant seizures of cocaine at the premises.

“There is an allegation that FSL was again contacted on 27 October 2021 to expedite the analysis report. However, Warrant Officer Setshe reiterated that FSL did not have space to store the exhibits. This is after FSL had received 700 kilograms of Cocaine seized in Aeroton in July 2021. Curiously, no attempts were made to increase security at the premises or to move the Cocaine to a more secure location after the attempted break-in.”

Shortly after the big cocaine seizure of 700 kg in Aeroton on 9 July 2021, officials seized 700 kg of cocaine which was transferred to FSL for analysis and storage, raising questions why FSL had capacity then but not for the earlier 541 kg seizure in Port Shepstone.

“On the 9th of July 2021, officials seized 700 kilogram of cocaine in Aeroton, Johannesburg. The Aeroton cocaine exhibits were transferred to FSL on 19 July 2021 for analysis and storage. If FSL had capacity on 19 July 2021 to store 700 kilograms, it is unclear why it did not have capacity for 541 kilograms three weeks earlier or anytime before the 021 the theft in Port Shepstone”