Alberton police station

Mr Nku expected Chief Mashabaan and colleague to take the black bags containing drugs to the Alberton police station, but instead a marked police van and additional police including the Flying Squad arrived, indicating tension and deviation from the initial agreed plan.

“I was then satisfied that the job was being well executed. At this point, I expected Chief Mashabaan and his colleague to take the black bags to the Alberton police station. However, soon thereafter, a marked police van arrived on the scene. I witnessed Chief Mashabaan and Warrant Officer Mogana engaged with the two police when he had just arrived. My initial assumption was that the marked police van was there to escort Chief Mashabaan and the consignment to Alberton police station, as initially agreed. However, more police men arrived, including the Flying Squad.”

Chief Mashaba engaged in an interception and search operation of a truck in his jurisdiction without informing the Alberton Police Station due to the sensitivity and risk of compromising the operation.

“I might go there and it leaves .”

Chief Mashaba chose not to inform the Alberton Police Station about the search operation to avoid compromising the operation and because of the urgency and safety considerations.

“I do not want people who may compromise the operation to compromise it , just so that it is recorded in the books of the police and at the very least , there is an entry or an enquiry dealing with the operation that you were about to carry out that day.”

Chief Mashaba acknowledged that not informing the Alberton Police Station was a deliberate decision to maintain operational security, despite the close proximity to the station.

“So you did not want Alberton Police Station to know that you were engaging in this operation ? No necessarily that I did not want to know .”

Chief Mashaba clarified that the operation had not started and that the distance between his residence, operation site, and Alberton Police Station is short, implying there was opportunity to inform but he chose not to.

“The operation has not started . You are at your house in the Alberton area ... Nothing stops you in 5 minutes to go to the Alberton Police Station and to say I am a Traffic Officer ...”

Roodekop is in the policing precinct of Alberton police station.

“Roodekop, the policing precinct of Roodekop is Alberton”

Phakula left his firearm at home for the drug bust operation, although it is unusual and questioned why he did not take it with him.

“You go and you leave... I was going to meet Magane at Alberton Police Station, of which is also a safe place. That was my thinking about it. So I never thought it is going to be dragging to other areas... I never thought it is going to be dragging to other areas. My intention was to go to meet with him at Alberton”

Phakula called his immediate commander before leaving home to inform he was going to meet Magane at Alberton Police Station, which he considered a safe place.

“before I left, I phoned Captain… my immediate Commander and the initial, like when I left my house, I was going to meet Magane at Alberton Police Station, of which is also a safe place”