Ms Wentzel

Advocate Segeels-Ncube claims that Chief Mashaba wanted to arrest Ms Wentzel despite Magane being present, implying Mashaba did not simply leave everything to the police as he claims.

“But you did not do that. You had Magane there, but you wanted to arrest Ms Wentzel.”

At the scene of the incident, various people including Ms Wentzel, Mtungwa, and Masetla did not mention any attempt by the vehicle or bakkie to leave, which contradicts claims that the vehicle was trying to leave with illicit drugs.

“if you look at the statements of other people who were there at the scene, whether it is Ms Wentzel, Mtungwa, who was there to unpack Masetla who had to cooperate with loading the bags, all of them do not mention anything related to the truck, sorry, the bakkie wanting to leave .”

Lt-Col Sebola suggests that hostile witnesses, particularly Ms Wentzel, have emerged, which concerns him.

“...you say you received information that some witnesses have become hostile, particularly Ms Wentzel.”

Warrant Officer Magane requested Ms Wentzel and her colleagues to open the containers so they could verify the information, and the container was opened.

“we requested Ms Wentzel and her colleagues to open the containers so that we can verify the information. The container was opened”

When the container was opened, some black bags started falling from it and others were trapped at the back of the container. A seal inside a white plastic had the same serial numbers as the seal a Scania employee broke when opening the container. Ms Wentzel said this was very strange and unusual.

“as soon as the doors were opened, some black bags started falling from the container, and others were trapped at the back of the container. I also found a seal which was inside a white plastic. The said seal had the same serial numbers as the seal that a Scania employee has just broken when opening the container ... but she said this was very strange and unusual”

The container was opened by a staff member, and the seal matching the broken seal serial numbers raised suspicion about how the goods were received.

“The container was opened by one of their staff members ... I then inquired from Ms Wentzel if this is how they received their stuff, but she said this was very strange and unusual”

There was confusion about the seal with the same serial number as the one broken by the Scania employee, and Warrant Officer Magane asked Ms Wentzel if the delivery usually comes with such a seal.

“I was trying to ascertain if this ... has the same serial numbers as the seal that was used to lock the container ... I asked Ms Wentzel if their stuff is delivered with a space seal? I do not know if I am answering you correctly”

The focus of the inquiry was both on the seals and on the drugs contained in the container, particularly the bags that fell down.

“it was also on the drugs also, because I also asked her if this is what they were expecting, the load, the bags that fell down”

Ms Wentzel denied knowledge of the black bags suspected to be carrying drugs while expecting a truck cap from Brazil; driver Mr Brightman Vusi Mthembu also denied knowledge of the bags. These individuals along with warehouse supervisor and receiver were arrested for dealing in drugs possession.

“Ms Wentzel confirmed that they were expecting a truck cap from Brazil, but denied any knowledge of the black bags, which were suspected to be carrying drugs. We also interviewed the driver, Mr Brightman Vusi Mthembu, and he also denied any knowledge about those bags. It was 23 large bags of suspected Cocaine. We then placed the driver of the truck, the Warehouse Supervisor, Ms Wentzel, and the Warehouse Receiver, Mr Cornelius, under arrest for dealing in drugs possession...”

Photographs of the scene were taken by Skynet personnel without interference by the accused, and the accused could not later deny the existence of drugs or allegations against them.

“photographs were taken by Skynet personnel... Ms Wentzel also confirmed that there was no interference from the accused when they were taking photos. It would have been impossible for the accused to deny the existence of the drugs... and to deny the allegations made against them.”