Mr Maphatsoe

Mr Maphatsoe informed Mr Nku in or about May 2021 that he allegedly required assistance relating to a shipment involving drugs connected to Iby's competitor, with the intended objective of using information to enable law enforcement to intercept the consignment.

“Mr Maphatsoe informed me that I by allegedly required assistance in relation to the movement of a consignment. I was informed by Mr Maphatsoe that I by required assistance with tracking a shipment which was said to involve drugs and which was allegedly connected to Iby's competitor. As it was explained to me the intended objective was to use information relating to the shipments so that law enforcement could intercept the consignment.”

The intended recipient and Iby Boss both knew about the consignment and that the drugs were on the way, and Mr Nku was tasked by Mr Maphatsoe and Iby Boss to make sure the competitor does not get the shipment.

“Iby Boss would have to know that the consignment is intended for his competitor. ... And the competitor also knows that the drugs is on its way. ... You are then there ... tasked by Mr Maphatsoe and Iby Boss to make sure that this rival does not get the intended shipment, the drugs.”

Mr Nku's involvement was not with the Aeroton consignment that landed but rather with a different consignment that was in planning.

“I was getting information fed... So, it would seem that they were planning a shipment... Still consignment still to come... No, a different one... That was still to come...”

Mr Nku states that his introduction to the consignment group by Mr Maphatsoe was vague and not specific to any consignment but was part of internal planning connected to competitors of Iby.

“The introduction was not consignment specific, I would say that, but it was because they also had an inside man on the other side... yes, so this is their internal planning... It was not planning for disrupting other people's operations... The mandate was rather there is so-and-so who is in the same business as Mr Iby”

Chief Mashaba acknowledges that working with Mr Maphatsoe (uncle) benefits his career growth and progression.

“I would have say how, but … When I say career-wise, obviously I would mean growing at work. … Maybe here I would mean a position maybe. With that, yes.”