Captain Nortje

Mr Nku continued providing information to various law enforcement members including Captain Nortje after the July 9 drug bust incident.

“post the July 9 drug bust ... I have provided information elsewhere ... I have continued to provide information to other members ... Captain Nortje.”

The speaker and others were arrested by a DPCI Hawks team led by Brigadier Sekgobela and other senior officers, detained harshly in Booysen until July 12, 2021, and denied visits and necessities per instructions from General Kadwa.

“At around half past 1, 13:30, we were arrested by DPCI Hawks team that came last at the crime scene. These were Brigadier Sekgobela, Colonel Steyn, Colonel Maluleka, Captain Sebola, Captain Nortje. They arrested us and took charge of the scene... After the arrest, we were taken to Booysen Police Station for detention and was detained at around 19:30 until Monday the 12th July 2021... We were treated very bad during detention in the cells and we were told as per General Kadwa's instructions that we are not allowed to be visited, where the toilet was not even working and nothing was allowed from our families outside, food, toiletries and water.”

Cases Booysen CAS 252/10/2021 and Booysen CAS 52/10/2021 arose from the arrest and detention by General Khan, General Kadwa, Brigadier Sekgobela, Captain Sebola, Captain Nortje, Colonel Steyn, and the Gauteng DPCI team.

“Booysen CAS 252/10/2021 ... Booysen CAS 52/10/2021 case emanates from our arrest and detention by General Khan, Crime Intelligence, General Kadwa, Brigadier Sekgobela, Captain Sebola, Captain Nortje, Colonel Steyn, and the Gauteng DPCI team”

Some statements of Captains Nortje and Warrant Officer Morris show inconsistencies with regard to tampering of exhibit bags containing drugs, which were changed when submitted to forensic science lab.

“Statements of Captain Nortje attached as TK18 and Warrant Officer Morris, TK19 have some inconsistencies with regard to tampering of exhibit bags. 820 exhibit bags were changed when they were submitted at forensic science laboratory.”

Warrant Officer Morriss lied about putting the original exhibits with their original bags inside another bag, as forensic analyst statements do not support this claim.

“Asistant Director Maphosho said, Morriss is lying because Captain Nortje's statement does not mention changing the bags.”

There was suspicion and investigation into the changing of exhibit bags involving Warrant Officer Morriss and Captain Nortje, because of discrepancies between forensic reports and statements.

“We noticed the drugs were removed from Booysens and later were at Pretoria College, with rumors of drugs stolen; wanted a separate investigation on the changing of exhibit bags.”

The forensic analyst only recorded the new unique forensic bag number without indicating if exhibits were taken out of their original bag, and no number reflects that movement.

“No where does he say anything that supports your saying there were exhibits taken out of their original bag. There is no number that reflects that.”

Captain Nortje did not mention any exchange of bags, only booking exhibits from Booysens to SAPS Academy for safekeeping.

“Captain Nortje did not talk about any changing of the bags. He only talked about booking the exhibits from Booysens to SAPS Academy for safekeeping.”

Assistant Director Maposho confirmed he asked Warrant Officer Morris and Captain Nortje for statements during the investigation but did not speak to the analyst or Modise.

“Yes, I have, Commissioner. When I requested his statement, yes I did. ... I have when I obtained his statement, Commissioner. ... No, I did not speak to the analyst, Commissioner.”

Adv. Baloyi alleges that the bags were changed completely, removing the old bag and placing the exhibit into a new bag, suggesting a possible discrepancy or incomplete questioning of Nortje.

“What they did is they changed the bags completely . They took out the old20 bag and put the exhibit in a new bag . That is what you are saying . Now , you do not specifically , at least Nortje does not say , we did that or we did not , which suggests to me that , or which may suggest that a direct question was not asked of him .”

Assistant Director Maphosho indicates that there are two different forensic bag numbers SAP13 and another one submitted to the lab and that this discrepancy was not directly questioned to Captain Nortje.

“we now have a new bag number that does not correspond with the SAP13 number . Explain that . You did not put that kind of a direct question ? It does not seem my you did . Whatever you may have asked him , it does not seem you said to him , now there are two different bag numbers , SAP13 and the one that you submit to the lab . Explain that difference .”

Assistant Director Maphosho confirms that Warrant Officer Morriss and Captain Nortje were together when the exhibits were taken to forensic lab, despite discrepancies about the bags.

“Yes , it was Warrant Officer Morris and Captain Nortje .”

Assistant Director Maphosho agrees that the statement by Morriss explaining the condition of the bags is not contradictory to Nortje's assertion that the bags were not tampered with, clarifying that damage occurred due to handling and transport.

“... the few unique forensic bags was damaged from the handling of the drug exhibits . The weight of the drugs in those bags and the moving of the drugs from Boysen to Pretoria West Training College and to the FSL . He says they suffered damage because of that . Now that is no contradiction to Nortje saying that they were not tampered with .”

There was an ongoing investigation against Captain Nortje, Warrant Officer Morris, and an FSL analyst related to the drug bust, with legal advice still awaited.

“The investigation was going to be against Captain Nortje , Warrant Officer Morris , and FSL analyst . I am still waiting for the legal advice .”

There was an administrative error in the statements by Captain Nortje and Warrant Officer Morris about the seizure which was later rectified and communicated to Lieutenant Colonel Sebola.

“Statement of Captain Nortje and Warrant Officer Morris, who performed these seizure together, differs but was rectified and found to be an administrative error... It was sent to me.”

One brick of evidence was recovered by LCRC and sent to FSL by Captain Nortje, but there was an issue of how it was missed initially.

“one brick that was recovered by LCRC. Do you know what happened with that one brick? ... called to come and collect that brick and he sent it to FSL”

Colonel Sebola indicated to Colonel Steyn that he needed officers to offload bags which were looted in a Nissan bakkie, and that four male persons were interviewed leading to their arrest.

“Colonel Steyn indicated that Captain Nortje and Warrant Officer Morris will assist me in handling those bags looted in the Nissan bakkie. And whilst we were waiting for LCRC to come, I continued interviewing four male persons. That was pointed to me by Warrant Officer-that was pointed to me. That is Warrant Officer Magane, Phakula, Mashaba, and Tumelo Nku. The outcome of the interview led to the arrest of Warrant Officer ... of the four ...”

Warrant Officer Woods of LCRC was present for the unloading and opening of bags that contained suspected drug bricks, with photographic documentation done during the process.

“Warrant Officer Woods of LCRC arrived at around 14H00 or so. And in the presence of all four now arrested – in the presence of the arrested, now Captain Nortje, Warrant Officer Morris, and Mashaba started offloading the black sports bag wrapped with black masking tape from the black Nissan. The first bag was unwrapped and the content inside was brick-like. ... He took photographs of those ...”

Officers Machebe, Morris, and Nortje were responsible for offloading the bags under the scene management of LT-Col Sebola, who oversaw the opening of one bag demonstrating the contents to the suspects.

“Machebe, Morris and Nortje, they are responsible for the offloading. Everything that they are doing, I am now in charge, the scene manager. I am saying to them, there was one example of bag that was opened... I want to show this gentleman what is inside the bag ... Because they are clueless, they do not know what is in the bag. Then that is when ... that was opened.”

Lt-Col Sebola confiscated all cellphones from the arrested persons as part of his investigation at the scene, while Capt Nortje and Morris were recording the exhibits.

“We continued to process the scene and Captain Nortje and Morris were recording the exhibit and as part of my investigation, I confiscated all the cellphones of the arrested person.”

Lt-Col Sebola was always present when Captain Nortje and Warrant Officer Morris were counting and entering exhibits but did not participate in counting or packing the evidence himself.

“I must at all times be present when they are doing this. In the counting, in the entering, those exhibits... they were counting in my presence... I was not physically counting... I was not putting them in evidence bag.”

The number of solid substance blocks measured about 715, with a minor packaging counting discrepancy potentially explained by one block sticking to the side of a bag due to adhesive tape and submitted late to the lab.

“Those kilograms, as long as they are above 500... 715 is the number... one of the bricks got stuck onto the side of the bags... that it was taken and put together with the rest at a later stage... I think in the docket Captain Nortje brought me another statement to say this is an additional statement... affidavit by Mabasa that deals with the additional brick... explained if you look at page 310... they discovered that one of the bricks was stuck and they gave it to the DPCI, Warrant Officer Nortje... And that was taken a month later to the lab, bringing the count to 716.”

Lt-Col Sebola monitored the movement and submission of exhibits to Booysens SAPS and was informed that drugs could not be kept long at Booysens, and forensic had no space, necessitating arrangements for later submission to forensic.

“When I was submitting those exhibits... Captain Nortje informed me that... the Station Commander of Booysens does not want those drugs to be kept there for a long time. Then... Forensic is saying they do not have a space. They are making an arrangement on the date on which they can send them to Forensic.”

An arrangement was made to remove exhibits from Booysens SAPS and keep them at Pretoria College.

“later on, I was told by Captain Nortje that an arrangement has been done, that they be removed from Booysens SAPS, and they will be kept at Pretoria College”

When exhibits arrived at the lab, the lab noted small tears in exhibit bags requiring Nortje and Morris to transfer contents to new evidence bags.

“we also heard testimony that when the exhibits arrived at the labs, the lab noted that there were small tears in the exhibit bags, necessitating Nortje and Morris to use, to put eight of the bags into new evidence bags”

Colonel Steyn instructed Captain Nortje and Warrant Officer Morris to handle the issue of safeguarding, counting, and general handling of the exhibits at the scene.

“I specifically told Captain Nortje and Warrant Officer Morris to deal with the issue of the exhibits . The safeguarding , counting , and general handling of the exhibits .”

Captain Nortje and Warrant Officer Morris were specifically instructed to handle exhibits' safeguarding, counting and general handling at the scene.

“I specifically told Captain Nortje and Warrant Officer Morris to deal with the issue of the exhibits . The safeguarding , counting , and general handling of the exhibits .”

The person with the long coat in a photograph is Brigadier Sekgobela, Colonel Steyn's direct commander, and Captain Nortje is standing just in front to her left side.

“The person with the long coat looks like Brigadier Sekgobela , my direct Commander . And then just in front of her , to her left hand side . That would have been Captain Nortje .”

Records kept by officers Morris and Nortje might have accounted for the discrepancy in the number of bricks, but Colonel Steyn was not present when the exhibit was booked into SAP 13 register.

“I think if we have a look at Morris and Nortje's statement, they kept record of this. I do not know if one was just missed or something. But I totally agree with you. That would indeed make a lot of sense. ... I was not there when this exhibit was booked into the SAP 13.”

There is a discrepancy in the count of 715 drug blocks reported by Warrant Officer Morris and Captain Nortje compared to the 700 blocks recorded in the SAP13 register.

“I still do not then have an answer to the discrepancy”

Warrant Officer Morris and Captain Nortje should explain the 15 block discrepancy in the exhibit count reported to Captain Modise.

“Warrant Officer Morris and Captain Nortje should explain why this discrepancy of 15 blocks”

One brick of cocaine got stuck inside adhesive wrapping around the sports bags and was initially missed but later retrieved.

“one of these bricks got stuck inside this adhesive wrapping that was around these bags, and that block was missed... One of those blocks got missed, and it was then retrieved by Warrant Officer Woods”

Captain Nortje reported to Colonel Steyn telephonically on 19 July 2021 that forensics were ready to receive the exhibits and handed over the exhibits to him and Warrant Officer Morris that day, with all items still in order and accounted for.

“While I was off sick with Covid, Captain Nortje reported to me telephonically that on the 19th of July 021, that forensics indicated that they were ready to receive on that day and that he handed in the exhibits, him and Warrant Officer Morris handed in the exhibits on that day ... all still accounted for”

Captain Nortje was in total control of the exhibits after they were unloaded into the strong room and the keys were handed to him with instructions to move the exhibits to the Forensic Science Laboratory when ready.

“I handed the keys to Captain Nortje, with the instruction to see to it that the exhibits be moved to Forensic Science Laboratory as soon as they are ready to receive it ... it would have been Captain Nortje that was in total control of the exhibits henceforth”

The tears in the evidence bags were too small for the bricks inside to have fit through, and the Forensic lab did not accept exhibits if bags were compromised or improperly sealed, resealing them into new bags without damage.

“the tears were so small that the bricks would not fit through at a tear like that ... they refuse to accept it ... they actually resealed these into other bags that were ... not have any damage to them and it was then accepted as such at Forensics”

A meeting was held on 3 December with Forensics where Colonel Steyn and others requested to physically see the exhibits but the consignment could not be found and Forensics indicated there was a problem.

“the first meeting we had with the people at Forensics in an effort to try and address this tasking that I received... they went and looked for it, but they could not find the whole consignment and they returned to us and they said to us, well, there is now a problem”

There were administrative errors regarding serial numbers on evidence bags collected during a seizure, but these were rectified.

“Errors in relation to serial numbers on evidence bag. Statement of Captain Nortje and Warrant Officer Morris who performed the seizure together differs, but was rectified and found to be an administrative error.”

Colonel Steyn commented that the difference regarding serial number errors between Nortje's and Morris's statements was likely rectified during his absence.

“Statement from Nortje and Morris, that error or the differences between their statements must have been rectified in my time of absence.”