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Hashish compressed dagga was stored in one of the safes until it was disposed of without any problem, and it came from the Durban Organised Crime Unit.
“I was also aware that Hashish compressed dagga was stored in one of the safes until it was disposed of without any problem. Commissioner, I must also mention that this Hashish was from Durban Organize Crime Unit.”
In 2018 all Mandrax tablets were seized at large clandestine laboratories in Harding and stored in the same safe until the exhibits were disposed of without incident.
“In 2018, all Mandrax tablets were seized at large clandestine laboratories in Harding and were stored in the same safe until exhibit were disposed of without incident.”
Warrant Officer Mpangase informed that Isipingo SAPS did not have exhibit bags and the exhibits were booked out again, which was a concern as it compromised chain of custody but was accepted because Mpangase was with the exhibits throughout.
“He informed me that Isipingo SAPS did not have exhibit bags but that the exhibits were entered into the Isipingo SAPS and booked out again. This was a concern for me because, as an investigator, I knew that the chain of custody must be preserved. However, since I was informed that Warrant Officer Mpangase had remained with the exhibit throughout, the chain of custody was preserved.”
The chain of custody was compromised because the team left the crime scene without placing the exhibit in the exhibit bag.
“I accept now that once the team left the crime scene without the exhibit being placed in the exhibit bag, the evidence was already compromised.”
The strong room was locked, and General Senona requested both original and spare keys, which Warrant Officer Mpangase gave to him in the witness's presence.
“The strong room was locked and General Senona asked that both set of keys, original and spare keys, be given to him. Warrant Officer Mpangase gave both set of keys to General Senona in my presence.”
The witness had little involvement in other cases at the time and was working closely with the CATS team during civil unrest investigations in mid-2021, reporting daily progress to General Senona and working closely with the Director of Public Prosecution.
“In July 2021, my vacation leave was cut short by the widespread civil unrest. General Senona informed me that General Lebea wanted me to come back to deal with the civil unrest, which I did, given my experience in CATS. I headed the CATS team tasked with identifying the instigators of crime and working closely with the Director of Public Prosecution office. I would give General Senona a regular progress report... I was working with the CATS team on a daily basis. I had very little involvement in other cases at this time.”
The head office provided four members from unaffected provinces to assist during the civil unrest cases as those cases were very difficult to solve.
“As a result of these cases, the head office also gave us four members from the provinces which were not affected by this civil unrest...because these cases were very, very, very hard to solve.”
There was an attempted break-in at Port Shepstone DPCI premises in late October 2021, causing first voiced concern about the safety of the suspected cocaine exhibit in the strong room.
“Sometime late in October 1, while I was on leave, I received a call from Lieutenant Colonel Prinsloo who informed me that there was an attempted break in at Port Shepstone DPCI premises. For the first time, he voiced concern about the safety of the suspected Cocaine exhibit in the strong room.”