Booysens SAPS

There is concern that the drug items submitted at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) might not be the same as those collected at the crime scene, with drugs taken from Booysens SAPS to Pretoria West SAPS College for safekeeping instead of directly to the FSL, and no paper trail for Pretoria West storage as they were not booked into SAP 13 store.

“impression that what was submitted at FSL might not be the same items collected at the crime scene . It is also noted from their statement that the drugs were taken from Booysens SAPS to Pretoria West SAPS College for safekeeping . One will wonder as to why drugs were kept at Pretoria West SAPS College rather than being taken straight to FSL”

After Warrant Officer Phakula placed the truck driver, lady receiver, and manager under arrest, police officers from Booysens SAPS arrived and supported the drug bust operation.

“The driver of the truck , the lady who was about to receive the goods , and the manager who was present , were placed under arrest by Warrant Officer Phakula . I have attached Warrant Officer Phakula's statement as an annexure as well . While the police officers were busy at the crime scene , opening the case and waiting for relevant role-players to come , two police officers from Booysen arrived and enquired about what was happening , and they explained to them about the drug bust . The police officers from Booysens SAPS were satisfied and were willing to assist them .”

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”

Upon arrival at the scene, the witness found a marked Booysens SAPS patrol van parked in front of Warrant Officer Magane's black Nissan NP300 vehicle, and the witness parked on the left side of the Booysens van.

“Upon my arrival at the scene, I found a marked Booysens SAPS patrol van parked in front of Warrant Officer Magane's State black Nissan NP300 facing each other. I then parked on the left side of the Booysens van.”

Members from Booysens SAPS cordoned off the scene and pulled the scene tape behind the Booysens police van as instructed.

“I also requested Warrant Officer Magane and members of Booysens SAPS to cordon off the scene ... Members from Booysens brought the scene tape from their patrol van and I saw them together with Warrant Officer Magane pulling the tape behind the Booysens police van”

There were discrepancies in forensic bag numbers between exhibits booked at Booysens SAPS and those received at forensic, some bags arrived late and information about the chain of custody was deliberately concealed.

“I then noticed that the forensic bag numbers of exhibits that were received at Forensic were different from those that were initially booked at the Booysens SAPS ... one brick with a new forensic bag number was only received at Forensic on the 10th of August 2021 ... that information was deliberately concealed from us.”

Phakula thought the exhibits were definitely going to be booked in Booysens SAPS.

“They were definitely going to be booked in Booysens SAPS”

The exhibits were transported to Booysens SAPS in an official police vehicle under armed guard and handed into SAP 13 register.

“I assisted Captain Sebola to make arrangements for the exhibits to be transported to Booysens SAPS...The exhibits were transported to Booysens SAPS in an official police vehicle under armed guard (SAPS members). The two members who I appointed responsible for the exhibits also accompanied the exhibits to hand it into the SAP 13.”