KwaZulu-Natal

Properties or hotels were allegedly bought around KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Johannesburg area, specifically Midrand or Kyalami and Pretoria North, reputed to be lodges and hotels.

“There were properties or hotels that were bought around KZN and Johannesburg area... the area that was mentioned was the Midrand or Kyalami... There was also some mention of Pretoria North... those properties were said to be some lodges and hotels.”

Ms Ramasamy was appointed as an aspirant prosecutor in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal on 1 February 2015, and worked on drug-related prosecutions in the Pinetown cluster, KwaZulu-Natal from 2016 to 2020, collaborating closely with SAPS members including Karl Saunder.

“I was appointed as an aspirant prosecutor in Pietermaritzburg-KwaZulu-Natal on the 1st of February 2015 ... I was based within the Pinetown cluster, KwaZulu-Natal, from the period of 2016 to 2020. During this period, I have dealt with drug-related prosecution and worked closely with SAPS members, such as Karl Saunder, who has given evidence before this Commission.”

Maj-Gen Senona admitted he did not know where Maydon Wharf was and was not oriented about KwaZulu-Natal, thus was unfamiliar with facilities and police stations in the area relevant to his duties as DPCI head KZN between August 2020 and June 2022.

“I do not know where is Maydon Wharf. You say Maydon Wharf or Wadean Wharf, I do not know... since August 2020 when you took office until June 2022, you did not acquaint yourself with the environment and the facilities and the police stations you may have to work with... I was not even orientated about KwaZulu-Natal”

Tumelo Nku was in KwaZulu-Natal from 2021-07-07 and left Gauteng the same day according to cell tower data on both his cell numbers.

“Tumelo was in the vicinity of KwaZulu-Natal from 2021-07-07 as he left Gauteng on the same day, according to cell phone towers active on both his cell phone numbers.”

The container referred to was still at the port in Durban on 2021-07-07 and was released and transported on 2021-07-08, the date Tumelo Nku traveled back to Gauteng from KwaZulu-Natal as confirmed by Transnet logos.

“The container was still at the port in Durban on 2021-07-07 and it was released and transported on 2021-07-08. We got this information from those pictures that had Transnet logos... It was released on the 8th, which is the date Tumelo Nku travelled back to Gauteng from KwaZulu-Natal.”

Cell phone data shows Tumelo Nku's movements on 2021-07-07 from Krugersdorp to Durban and on 2021-07-08 from Durban to Gauteng, indicating he was monitoring the container's movement.

“On map dated 2021-07-07 with yellow tower icons, it is when Tumelo Nku was moving from Gauteng to Durban. The icons start from Krugersdorp which is where Tumelo Nku is residing, and later was in the vicinity of Durban... 2021-7-08 is the date Tumelo Nku travelled back to Gauteng from KwaZulu-Natal. This indicates that Tumelo Nku was monitoring the container from KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng.”

Brigadier Nyuswa joined the South African Police Service (SAPS) in 1987, trained at Hammanskraal police training college, and rose through various roles including Provincial Commander for Serious Organized Crime Investigation (SOCI) in KwaZulu-Natal.

“I joined the Police (SAPS) in 1987 as a trainee at the police training college in Hammanskraal. In December 1987, I was posted to the special guard unit in Port Edward as a Constable. ... I am a Provincial Commander for Serious Organized Crime Investigation (SOCI) of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) in KwaZulu Natal.”

In 2024, General Senona attended the speaker's father's funeral in KwaZulu-Natal with KZN DPCI management and members.

“In 2024, General Senona attended my father's funeral in KZN, together with KZN DPCI management and members”

In KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), there are five Serious Organized Crime Investigation (SOCI) units located at Durban, Port Shepstone, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, and Newcastle.

“In KZN there are five SOCI units. There is one in Durban, Port Shepstone, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, and Newcastle.”

There was an inquiry opened around August 2020 relating to dealing drugs (heroin, also known as Nyaope) involving Tanzanian nationals in South Africa, operating in Gauteng, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, and also using Uber drivers for transporting drugs.

“it was around August 2020 when Sergeant Masoma opened an inquiry... This is a request to open an inquiry for further investigations. Here it is alleged that persons as mentioned in Annexure A committed the offence of dealing drugs, Heroin, also known as Nyaope ... There is a group of Tanzanian nationals who are currently residing in South Africa. They sell drugs, Nyaope, for personal gain and also own businesses around Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal as a cover-up for their illegal dealings ... They rely on Uber drivers for transporting drugs ...”

On 9 July 2020, Sergeant Masoma received a tip-off about 23 bags of drugs en route from KwaZulu-Natal, and Witness I requested more details before acting on the tip-off.

“On 9 July 2020, at around 7 a.m., Sergeant Masoma notified me that he had received a tip-off the previous night about 23 bags of drugs en route from KwaZulu-Natal. I asked Sergeant Masoma to obtain more details... before we could act on the tip-off.”

Witness I received a tip-off related to the inquiry from a source in KwaZulu-Natal on 6 August 2020.

“the message is in relation to the inquiry 6/8/2020”

Allegations exist that Major General Khan is known to oversee drugs coming from KwaZulu-Natal and that he is involved in related transactions, though these remain hearsay and uninvestigated by the witness.

“All allegations are that Major General Khan is known to oversee drugs coming from KZN or being party to transactions in relation to them. All these allegations are just the hearsay, rumours said by various people, and I never investigated them or made follow-up on them.”

Witness has never gone to KwaZulu-Natal regarding the Major General Khan matter and never met Major General Khan again as he disliked him since the Aeroton scene.

“I have never gone to KZN regarding the General Khan's matter. I have also never met Major General Khan as I never liked him since the Aeroton scene.”

A letter dated 3 February 2024 from General Senona addressed to the Acting Provincial Commander of Serious Organized Crime Investigation in KwaZulu-Natal concerns the temporary placement of Warrant Officer Sander pending an investigation due to allegations of serious corruption.

“This is a letter dated 3 February 2024 . . . from General Senona . It is addressed to the Acting Provincial Commander , Serious Organized Crime Investigation , Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation , KwaZulu-Natal . . . regarding Warrant Officer Sander and his temporary placement to Provincial Support Services . A complaint was received on allegations of serious corruption against the above-mentioned member . . . it has been decided that Warrant Officer Sander be placed on Provincial Support Services as from 13 February 2024 until further notice pending the outcome of this investigation .”

A provincial inspection team from throughout KwaZulu-Natal came to Colonel Jacob's office to inspect dockets, enquiries, and registers.

“This was done by a provincial inspection team meaning this was a team comprising of officers from throughout KZN who would now come to my office and inspect all of our dockets, enquiries, registers and so forth.”

Lieutenant Colonel Justice Jabulani Duma is the Unit Commander attached to the Multi-Dimensional Organised Crime unit in Durban within Crime Intelligence, KwaZulu-Natal.

“I am Justice Jabulani Duma. I am a Lieutenant Colonel in the South African Police Service. I am attached to Multi-Dimensional Organised Crime, Durban, Intelligence Collection in Crime Intelligence. And I am a Unit Commander in MPOC, Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.”

Lieutenant Colonel Duma matriculated in 1991, joined the South African Police in 1992, was appointed as a Constable in 1995, promoted to Sergeant in 1996, Warrant Officer in 2000, Captain in 2009, and appointed as Lieutenant Colonel and Unit Commander of Multi-Dimensional Organised Crime in Durban on 26 March 2012.

“I matriculated in 1991, joined the South African Police in 1992, before SAP was amalgamated to the South African Police Service in 1995 and appointed as a Constable. I served in the uniformed branch currently known as Visible Policing at Westville SAP. I studied technical assay in Durban, National Diploma, Policing Management, but did not finalise or complete studies. I was appointed to the rank of a Sergeant in 1996 and in the year 2000, I was appointed to the rank of a Warrant Officer. In 2009, I was appointed to the rank of a Captain. I joined Crime Intelligence in 012 and attached to Security Intelligence in Border Security, which is in Crime Intelligence KwaZulu-Natal, and became an intelligence operative. In 026-03-01, I was appointed as a Lieutenant Colonel and the Unit Commander of Multi-Dimensional Organised Crime, Durban, intelligence collection.”

There is only one main forensic laboratory in Pretoria in Gauteng, one in Cape Town, and the one in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) was damaged by serious flood damage and thus not operational.

“In Gauteng , there is one lab in Pretoria . That is the main forensic lab . And I know there is one in Cape Town . There used to be one in KZN as well , but the one in KZN got damaged . It had serious , serious flood damage . So , exhibits at that time were no longer going there .”

Lt-Col Prinsloo was part of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation in KwaZulu-Natal, which has five units each with a Unit Commander reporting to Brigadier Nyuswa, who reports to Major General Senona.

“I was in a Serious Organised Crime Investigation, which has currently five units in KwaZulu-Natal. Each of these units has a Unit Commander who reports to the Provincial Commander, Brigadier Nyuswa. He is the Provincial Commander for Serious Organised Crime Investigation. He, in turn, reports to the DPCI Provincial Head, currently being Major General Senona.”

There were six break-ins at the Port Shepstone premises before June 2021, and the latest before the theft was on 15 January 2021; a security breach report was submitted by Lt Colonel S R Singh to multiple crime intelligence and security heads in KwaZulu-Natal.

“General Mosikili refers to six break-ins at the premises before June 2021, with the most recent before the theft being on 15 January 2021. Most importantly, on 22 January 2020, Lieutenant Colonel S R Singh, Acting Section Commander, Counter Intelligence, Crime Intelligence KZN, submitted a report to the Provincial Head of Crime Intelligence KZN, Provincial Head of the DPCI KZN, Section Head, Operations, Crime Intelligence KZN, Section Commander UGU Cluster, Crime Intelligence KZN, and the National Head, Security Standards, Counter Intelligence to address the security breach at the Port Shepstone premises following the 20 January 2020 break-in.”

A letter from Lieutenant Colonel Singh dated 22 January 2020 was directed to five Heads of various units including the Provincial Head, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, KwaZulu-Natal.

“letter by Lieutenant Colonel Singh , and that you'll find still under the same annexure number , HFF4 at page 121”

The information note details that General Mosikili travelled to KwaZulu-Natal and met with Provincial Head Major General Senon, who submitted a report regarding the incident summarizing the seizure of the drugs in June 2021.

“General Mosikili refers to, it says that she travelled to KwaZulu-Natal and met with the Provincial Head, Major General Senon. Subsequently, the Provincial Head submitted a report regarding the incident, and it is summarized as follows... starts with the seizure of the drugs in June 2021”

Crime prevalence differs by province: North West most affected by illegal mining, illicit drugs, and firearm trafficking; Gauteng by illicit drugs, precious metals, firearms, ammunition, and cash-in-transit heists; KwaZulu-Natal by illicit drugs, CIT, and non-ferrous metals crimes; Western Cape (esp Cape Town) by illicit drugs, marine life crimes, firearms, ammunition, and gangsterism.

“The order of prevalence of these crimes will differ from province to province. In the North West, illegal mining, illicit drugs, and firearm trafficking are the most prevalent. In Gauteng, illicit drugs, precious metals and diamonds, firearms and ammunition, and cash-in-transit heists are the most prevalent. In KwaZulu-Natal, illicit drugs, CIT, and non-ferrous metals crimes are the most prevalent. And in the Western Cape, with specific reference to Cape Town, illicit drugs, marine life crimes, firearms and ammunition, and gangsterism-related offences are the most prevalent.”

The drugs found in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) should have been brought to Johannesburg for storage.

“Are you suggesting that the ones that were found in KZN should have been brought to Johannesburg? That is correct .”

Telephone discussions between detectives in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) detectives, and FSL personnel are substantiated with witness statements regarding the handling of exhibits.

“obviously there is a lot of indications that there was telephonic discussions between the detectives in KZN, the DPCI detectives, and FSL and it is substantiated with witness statements”

The murder incident occurred in KwaZulu-Natal and the docket remained a KwaZulu-Natal case, but was also an Organized Crime case.

“This was an incident in KZN... the docket ended up at national office? We were working hand in glove with KZN police... That is correct... But it was an Organized Crime case as well”

Lieutenant General Shibiri indicates the requester of assistance went to multiple people including in KwaZulu-Natal, showing desperation and that he knocks on all doors regardless of personal connection.

“he went to everybody, including to KZN looking for assistance . He can go to anybody, irrespective of he knows you or not . So when he is desperate, he knocks all the doors .”