Hearing day 110

General Senona is anticipated to take the stand only on 5 June 2026 although a subpoena required him to be present on 1 June 2026, but he has complied with the current order to be present.

“The result of the schedule is that General Senona is anticipated to take the stand only on the 5th of June ... he is under subpoena and order by the Chair to be present today, he has availed himself”

General Senona's testimony was initially subpoenaed for 18 May 2026 but was postponed to 1 June 2026 due to reasons partly accepted from his lawyer's correspondence.

“you will recall that we had issued a subpoena for General Senona to appear on the 18th of May 2026 ... we accepted some of the reasons advanced ... the Chair then stood General Senona's testimony down to the 1st of June”

Three operative summonses were issued against General Senona, the first on 9 April 2026 after he had tendered evidence between 7 and 29 January 2026, summoning him to appear on 8 May 2026.

“There are three operative summonses issued against the General. The first summons was issued on the 9th of April this year ... that summons called upon him to appear on the 8th of May”

General Senona's legal team seeks a ruling to withdraw the 19 May summons and clarify that the operative summons is that of 29 April, reissued on 22 May, because the 19 May summons was in effect not withdrawn properly.

“if indeed the Commission is not intent on relying on the summons on the 19th of May, we would perhaps seek a ruling from yourself, Chair, that the summons of the 19th of May is withdrawn and just clarification, that the operative summons is the summons of the 29th of April as reissued on the 22nd of May”

Major General Senona was explicitly cautioned by Evidence Leader Hassim SC about the implications of ignoring a summons under section 6.

“Major General Senona was explicitly cautioned by, I think the Evidence Leader was Hassim SC on the day of the implications of ignoring a summons under section 6”

The power of a summons issued by this Commission is equivalent to that of a summons issued by the High Court.

“the power of a summons issued by this Commission is equivalent to that of a summons issued by the High Court”

A summons issued on 19 May 2026 mistakenly replicated content of a summons from November 2025, which was not correct, leading to a further summons on 22 May 2026 clarifying the correct date likely for evidence rendering as 7 June 2026.

“On the 19th of May summons also warned the General to appear on the 1st of June ... summons was then subsequently issued on the 22nd of May advising the General that the 19th of May summons had inadvertently replicated the content of the summons in November 2025 and that that was not correct ... in all probability the General would render his evidence on the 7th of June”

General Senona's legal team has been given a bundle of documents including witness statements, affidavits and transcripts only on Friday after 4pm, which has made it difficult to prepare a sworn statement and to take proper instructions in time for the hearing on 1 June 2026.

“On Friday sometime after 4 o'clock, we were issued with a bundle of documents by the Commission ... we were still preparing for today's hearing as well ... it became a bit of a difficulty from a timing perspective to have the sworn statement prepared for the Commission today ... so we would seek an indulgence from the Commission to file the statement by close of business on the 3rd of June”

ADV SELLO SC corrected that Major General Senona's testimony was not postponed to 1 June but stood down to that date and is now expected to testify on 5 June 2026, supported by correspondence between the Commission attorneys and General Senona's attorneys.

“Ms Tulk inadvertently perhaps communicated the wrong position ... Here is the correct position and that is supported by correspondence between the attorneys of the Commission and General Senona's correspondence ... I made the mistake of saying that General Senona's testimony was postponed to the 1st of”

A wrong subpoena was reissued to General Senona, causing confusion and requiring correction.

“a wrong subpoena was reissued”

The error in the subpoena was discovered on 22 May and corrected by reissuing the correct subpoena dated 29 April.

“By the 22nd of May, the error was discovered... the correct subpoena was reissued, which is the subpoena of the 29th of April.”

The original subpoena was issued on 29 April and was intended to call General Senona to testify on 29 April, later postponed to 1 June.

“the subpoena originally issued on the 29th of April... sought to clarify that this appearance is now postponed to the 1st of June.”

Statements and transcripts provided last week were given at the request of General Senona, who specifically listed which statements and transcripts he wanted.

“those were provided at the request of General Senona. General Senona specifically listed the statements he wanted and transcripts regarding those witnesses.”

General Senona's statement was due on 1 June, but Advocates Tulks and Sello indicate it will not be provided by the end of the day on 1 June, proposing an extension to 2 or 3 June.

“that subpoena requires his statement ... to be provided by the 1st of June ... Advocate Tulk says they are not in a position to provide it by today ... we would request that these be provided on the 2nd, tomorrow, 2nd of June ... and I have proposed by close of business on the 3rd of June.”

There is agreement among parties that General Senona is to testify on 5 June, and the Commission should focus on that date rather than disputes about subpoenas.

“all sides are agreed that General Senona is to testify on the 5th, rather than to-ing and fro-ing on where faults or mistakes or inadvertence whatever else.”

General Senona raised a concern that he was not simply at liberty to ignore an operative summons.

“The General raised the concern that he was not simply at liberty to ignore an operative summons.”

Statements regarding Friday's bundle of documents were requested as early as 4 May to allow adequate preparation for General Senona's further appearance.

“statements were requested as early as the 4th of May ... paragraph 4 of that letter says that additional documents ... would be furnished with the information to enable adequate preparation for the appearance.”

The summons issuing the subpoena was an administrative act by the Secretary of the Commission, a statutory body, and ignoring its summons could have employment and criminal implications.

“the summons was issued under the hand of the Secretary in the auspices of the Commission carrying out its powers as a statutory body ... the implications internally from an employment perspective, as well as from a criminal perspective of ignoring a document of that nature was the only reason that it was placed on record.”

The Evidence Leaders must prepare bundles of related documents after General Senona's statement is filed, implying timing pressures if the statement is filed late.

“once a statement is filed, the Evidence Leaders usually have to prepare bundles of documents that relate to the statement ... there is a question of when does it get finalized and we too must get those bundles in time for our preparation as well.”

General Senona's counsel requests indulgence to file his witness statement by close of business on 3 June to allow meaningful engagement and preparation within a realistic 48-hour timeline.

“for Major General Senona to meaningfully engage with the evidence and take proper instruction, the realistic timeline is 48 hours and we would request your indulgence to file a witness statement by close of business on the 3rd of June.”

The statement in the inquiry must be filed by midnight tomorrow as ruled by the Chairperson.

“the statement must be filed by close of business . In fact , I could even be kind and say , midnight , will that work for you ? Tomorrow though , tomorrow though . That s hould , it s hould .”

There exists a sleepless nights culture at the Bar which has not changed according to Adv Tulk.

“We are in debt , Chair , and I assure you nothing has changed in terms of the sleepless nights culture at the Bar .”

A witness scheduled to appear tomorrow has applied for a partial in-camera hearing which has largely been disposed of but is still pending further advice on the application.

“we have a witness scheduled for tomorrow . The witness himself has brought an application for a partial in - camera , which , as tradition , has been served on the press and the media houses . That application has , in large part , I think , been disposed of , but my learned colleague here , Mr Sikhakane , will address you on that and advise the Commissioners where we land on that particular application .”

An agreement has been reached to not dispute partial in-camera application between certain Evidence Leaders, the media, and the witness scheduled to appear tomorrow.

“It is correct , as my learned friends say s , that an agreement has been reached , and there is no dispute , as I understand it , between , certainly between the Evidence Leader s and the media , and as I understand it , with the witness as well .”

Lieutenant Colonel Duma's evidence on 2 June 2026 will be heard publicly via audiolink but with his face or visual features concealed, and members of the media and others are prohibited from publishing or broadcasting any image revealing his face.

“Lieutenant Colonel Duma 's evidence on 2 June 2026 , or until such time that he is excused by the Chairperson , will be heard publicly via audiolink , and his face or visual features will be concealed ; and . Members of the media and any person granted access to the proceedings are prohibited from publishing , broadcasting , disseminating , or otherwise placing in the public domain any image , photograph , video footage , or other visual material that may reveal , or tend to reveal the face of Lieutenant Colonel Duma .”

Mr Carrim was subpoenaed to attend the hearing but provided a current medical report stating he was not fit to appear, and his legal representatives are present instead.

“Mr Carrim had been subpoenaed to attend today . We received a medical report and I understand Mr Carrim ' s legal representatives are here .”

The Commission has two months of hearings left and has allocated a slot from 29 June to 1 July to accommodate Mr Carrim's postponed testimony along with other part-heard witnesses.

“We have two months of hearings left . We have allocated a slot from 29 June to 1 July to mop up all of the part-heard witnesses . And so from our side , we would want Mr Carrim to be postponed to a day between 29 June and 1 July .”

Mr Carrim's legal team suggested dates of 22 to 26 June or 9 to 10 July for his rescheduled testimony, but these dates are not convenient for the Commission.

“From Mr Carrim ’ s team had suggested 22 to 26 June or 9 to 10 July . Those dates are not convenient to us .”

Mr Carrim's legal team was informed that despite the subpoena and medical report, it was not necessary for Mr Carrim to attend today, but they are present on his behalf.

“Mr Carrim ' s legal team was informed that although he had been subpoenaed today in the light of the medical report , it was not necessary for him to be here , but his legal team should be here , and we are here today .”

Warrant Officer Sander provided a statement to the Commission related to the Port Shepstone stream and is expected to testify about his career and important highlights since joining the police force.

“Warrant Officer Sander's statement can be found in the Consolidated Statement file section 3 and it is an annexure to Colonel Jacob's statement, which he has submitted to the Commission... The witness is Karl Ronald Sander and he is taking the oath.”

Warrant Officer Sander corrected a date entry in his statement from 2026-02-06 to 2020-02-06.

“I see there is a date incorrectly entered in here. It would have been 2020-02-06, not 2026-02-06.”

There was an incident at Isipingo Police Station involving the exhibit clerk Warrant Officer Peramal where exhibits of a bust in February 2020 were not stored properly which influenced the decision on 2 June 2021 regarding cocaine that was not stored at Isipingo.

“His statement deals with a previous incident at Isipingo Police Station with the same exhibit clerk, Warrant Officer Peramal, and why the exhibits of his bust that occurred in February 2020 were also not stored or why the exhibit registrar was reluctant to accept those exhibits, which is an aspect which Colonel Jacob relies upon for the decision-making that was made on the 2nd of June 2021 regarding the cocaine that was not stored at Isipingo.”

The exhibit of suspected cocaine was not stored at Isipingo Police Station on 2 June 2021, a decision influenced by the exhibit registrar's reluctance and previous incidents.

“why the exhibits of his bust that occurred in February 2020 were also not stored or why the exhibit registrar was reluctant to accept those exhibits, which is an aspect which Colonel Jacob relies upon for the decision-making that was made on the 2nd of June 2021 regarding the cocaine that was not stored at Isipingo.”

Warrant Officer Sander was subpoenaed to appear to provide evidence about drug busts including the Port Shepstone theft and other drug busts around Durban in that period.

“Warrant Officer Sander's name appears in many other instances related not only to the Port Shepstone theft but other drug busts that occured in Durban around that period, and so therefore we subpoenaed him to appear today to give evidence.”

Warrant Officer Sander joined the South African Police in 1986 and went to college in 1987.

“1986-12-31, I was attested in the South African police. 1987, I went to college.”

Warrant Officer Sander has extensive training from 1991 to 2024 in counter-terrorism, narcotics investigation, drug identification, clandestine labs, and narcotics enforcement including international courses.

“• 1991 , Combating of Terrorism Reaction Course . • 1991 , Identification of Explosives . • 1996 , SWAT Instructor . • I was a training instructor for the South African police . • In 2000 , I completed my Detective Learning Program . • 2002 , Narcotics Investigators Course . • 2007 , Street Survival . • 2008 , Tactical Survival . • 2009 , Analyst Notebook I 2 Explorer . • 2010 , training presented by the DEA, Drug Identification and Clandestine Laboratories . • In 2010 , it is part of the SWAT Co-Program, Drug Identification and Trafficking and Identification of Chemical Equipment Used in the Clandestine Laboratories and Manufacturing of Illicit Substances . • In 2013 , I completed a Certificate in Anti-Corruption for Practitioners . • 2015 , I completed a course by the NCIS Homeland Security by the Americans in the Counter-Illicit Smuggling in the Maritime Environment . • In 2015 , I am qualified as a Non-Intimate DNA Collection . • In 2023 , I completed a course of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency in the New Trends in Clandestine Laboratories and Chemical Monitoring . • In 2024 , I was able to assist in writing a course for the South African Police , which is the Specialized Narcotics Investigation Learning Program .”

Warrant Officer Sander developed and has been involved in training the Specialized Narcotics Investigation Program since about 2000, which includes training members of SAPS, SANEB, DPCI, Customs, Organized Crime, Crime Intelligence, and FSLA members.

“For the last , yoh , I began in about 2000 , traveling around the country , training the different Narcotics units , Crime Intelligence , and Organized Crime . We began developing a training program . It is the program that I mentioned now . It is the Specialized Narcotics Investigation Program . There was a team of us , and that is what I did . It trained the DPCI , the SANEB members , the Station members , Organized Crime , Crime Intelligence , Customs . We sit in with members from FSLA as well , so it is quite a cool course .”

The Specialized Narcotics Investigation training is specialized, accredited by the South African Police, covers chemical manufacture and trafficking of drugs, law enforcement protocols including surveillance and interception, and is not given to normal station level members but to identified specialized unit members.

“It is a specialized module . We do not just tell you it is Cocaine . We tell you where it comes from . We then tell you what chemicals you need to manufacture the end product . We then tell you how it is trafficked . We then teach you how to identify the trafficking measures . From there , there is law enforcement protocols that go into investigating that , mutual legal assistance , surveillance , interception and monitoring , agent program . That is part of that . So , it is something that the normal station level members do not receive . It is more for your specialized units ... It is , Commissioner . It is accredited and in place .”

The Specialized Narcotics Investigation training was officially rolled out at Chatsworth Training College at the end of 2024 and is accredited by the South African Police.

“It was rolled out in the end of 2024 at the Chatsworth Training College , and we had it officially accredited and passed .”

The Specialized Narcotics Investigation training is given not only to DPCI members but also to other SAPS members who are identified in the working environment and have an interest in narcotics work.

“Commissioner , as I said , it is other SAPS members as well , but it is people that are identified in the working environment . It is also people that want to have an interest . It is pointless you come sit for a couple of weeks and you do not have an interest in the topic . You have got to have an interest in the field . You have got to be passionate about it .”

Candidates for the Specialized Narcotics Investigation training are selected by unit commanders based on interest and passion; the training includes theoretical and practical components including on-site training at locations such as airports, ports, and cold storage.

“Correct , Commissioner . It is also people that want to have an interest . It is pointless you come sit for a couple of weeks and you do not have an interest in the topic . You have got to have an interest in the field . You have got to be passionate about it . We do a theory , and then we actually did the physical , where we took people into the airport . We took people into the port . We took people into a minus 40 degree cold storage and showed them how to work in that environment . So you have got a practical feel for it . You have got the theoretical feel for it , but you also had to work every night . They had theory to do , they had tests to write , and it was sat in by HRD , the Human Resource Development . There is two sections in HR , and they then bring it through . It was myself and members from head office , and I say it was a highlight of my career .”

The Specialized Narcotics Investigation training is not currently compulsory but is encouraged, with applications reviewed by unit commanders and limited by budget and time constraints.

“Commissioner , I would say from my side , I am going to say I would love every policeman to complete it , but it would be a person that is going to , obviously there would be a budget , it is time , the police would say there is a place for 30 members who is in that field , they must apply , and then the Unit Commanders would send those people to be enriched and developed . So it is not compulsory at this stage , but it is a unit standard to obtain while working in our division .”

Warrant Officer Sander personally has experience with toxic chemicals in narcotics investigations causing serious health issues including skin cancer, and emphasizes the need for protocols to handle these chemicals safely.

“I have personally experienced it . My current partner that I work with got very sick . The chemicals are toxic . I have skin cancer . I cannot tell you if I got it from here or not . The chemicals are toxic . You have to take the necessary precautions while handling , while dealing , and processing them . That is why we have our protocols set up , but I am not the person that writes these protocols . It is chemists , doctors , forensic experts that wrote those protocols because they know as well , those chemicals are deadly , and in the environment that we work in , we , maybe the community only sees it as drugs . It is also chemicals , and some of those chemicals are not chemicals at all . They are substances that you and I have in our kitchens , and if you interact those chemicals in the wrong way , you will get sick .”

The people trained in the Specialized Narcotics Investigation program are not the regular police on the ground but are specifically selected members, with interventions from SAPS aimed at improving training.

“Commissioner , the people that we are training are not the people on the ground that you are hearing about , so maybe it is the wrong field , but there is interventions from the South African Police to train those people .”

Warrant Officer Sander and other SAPS members receive ongoing training about drugs that has significantly improved from what was taught in the past, with a focus on understanding risks and consequences at crime scenes.

“The South African police member , when we join the police , or when I joined the police , we were taught about drugs . Believe me , it is nothing what we are , where we are today . I accept it , I appreciate it , but it is not where we are today . There are different risks . The members on the scene , the members in blue , the uniform members , elements of this are taught to them , but they do not understand the risk consequence behind it .”

NCIS Homeland Security, Counter Illicit Smuggling, Maritime Environment unit dealt with heroin and cocaine trade via sea, including containerized vessels, fishing vessels, and air transport, involving cross-border integration.

“If I am correct, that had a lot to do with the Heroin trade and the Cocaine trade. So it was everything that was coming by sea... also included air transport as well. So it is your cross-border integration.”

Warrant Officer Sander was trained in practical courses involving wearing correct PPE and producing dockets or inquiry files at crime scenes.

“You are given a practical where you are taught to wear all the correct PPE, and then process that scene, and then at the end, produce a docket or an inquiry file.”

In 2024, Warrant Officer Sander was moved away from narcotics investigations to the provincial head office under General Senona, working in supply chain management looking after weapons for the KZN Armory for the DPCI.

“I was moved away from my work environment, Commissioner... The provincial head office under General Senona... Supply chain management... I looked after all the weapons for the KZN Armory for the DPCI.”

Warrant Officer Sander has been involved in narcotics investigations from 1999 until 2023/2024.

“1999... Ja, 2023/2024, Commissioner.”

In August of the previous year, Warrant Officer Sander was moved back to Economic Protected Resources unit, working on crimes against infrastructure, wildlife, high-profile kidnappings, and human trafficking.

“I was moved back to Economic Protected Resources in August of last year, Commissioner... I now work with crimes against infrastructure... wildlife, as well as high-profile kidnappings and human trafficking.”

Warrant Officer Sander presented lectures to the South African Regional Police Commissioners Organization (SARPCO) on drug interdiction, focusing on heroin and methamphetamine smuggling corridors.

“SARPCO... I was privileged enough to present lectures to them and it builds up a brilliant communication, because that is the corridor for the Heroin and Methamphetamine into our country. So I was presenting courses to SARPCO attendees.”

Warrant Officer Sander was involved in multiple drug busts in Durban between 2020 and 2023 involving large quantities of Mandrax, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

“General Flynn had created table of drug busts that occurred in Durban... 5 February 2020 at CHC Depot, 547 kilograms Mandrax... 8 May 2020... 11 August 2020, Durban, 20 kilograms of Cocaine... 23 February 2021, 495 packages of Meth... 30 July 2021, Maydon Wharf, 1,000 kilograms of Cocaine... 28 November 2022, 60 kilograms of Cocaine at R & D Port... 13/10/2023, 228 kilograms of Cocaine at Dube Cold Storage...”

Warrant Officer Sander personally attended a February 16, 2022 drug bust but it was not his case; it was assigned to Colonel K.G. Sibiya.

“16th of February 2022... I attended the scene... but it was not my case... It was given to Colonel Sibiya... K G Sibiya.”

The 13 October 2023 cocaine bust at Dube Cold Storage involved frozen chicken from South America with cocaine hidden between the chicken.

“It is deemed a port operation... It was right next to King Shark International Airport... inside an industrial space... frozen chicken coming from South America into South Africa and here we had information and there was a shipment of Cocaine hidden in between the chicken.”

There was another cocaine bust at Grindrod warehouse involving cocaine found in paint drums; however, the case number provided initially was incorrect.

“I have been part of one... another one where the Cocaine was found in paint drums... But, Commissioner, the case number is incorrect... That would be correct because it was at Grindrod... It is at the Grindrod warehouse... But on the image itself, the index to 13/10/2023 is incorrect.”

Warrant Officer Sander participated in the paint bust operation and identified cocaine concealed in paint tins due to irregularities on the lids but did not act further.

“I was part of the team under a Commander. I can say it was easy. We spotted the paint tins because of irregularities on the lids, and then we identified the Cocaine and unpacked it. I did nothing further than that.”

Warrant Officer Sander confirms attendance at the scene of a bust involving irregular paint tins identifying concealed cocaine.

“I can confirm those are the images that were there, and I can confirm I did attend the scene.”

The enquiry number for the paint bust was confused with the enquiry number for the frozen chicken bust, leading to errors in recorded weights of seized goods.

“they confused the paint bust with the enquiry number for the frozen chicken... Commissioner Baloyi is correct, it is not 228 kg on 551. It should be 200. And yours is the 228 for the frozen chicken”

Warrant Officer Sander was moved to Support Services due to a pending investigation of corruption and served a letter signed by General Senona regarding this transfer.

“I was moved to Support Services due to a pending investigation of corruption. I was served a letter by General Senona, and I was moved.”

Commissioner Segeels-Ncube questions Warrant Officer Sander about the letter served to him regarding his transfer to Support Services.

“Can we go to that letter on page 75, Commissioners, of that same bundle, 475 of the Exhibit bundle...”

The corruption allegations and transfer to Support Services occurred in 2024.

“I was moved to Support Services due to a pending investigation of corruption ... It is signed by General Senona, dated 2024-02-13.”

Warrant Officer Sander confirms the letter served to him is a Notice of Temporary Placement due to serious corruption allegations made against him.

“A complaint was received on allegations of serious corruption against the above-mentioned member, who is attached to the SANEB team at Durban Serious Organized Crime Investigation...”

Warrant Officer Sander was verbally informed in a meeting by senior police officers about allegations against him of supplying narcotics to the Florida Road Nightclub Syndicates.

“I was told that an email had been sent to the National Head Office that I was accused of supplying or facilitating the supply of narcotics to the Florida Road Nightclub Syndicates.”

The investigation into Warrant Officer Sander was closed unofficially within four to five days with a negative finding.

“Unofficially, I found out that the enquiry was closed, I think it was in four days or five days... The enquiry was closed within four days. It was filed, negative.”

Warrant Officer Sander never received any disciplinary letters or writings related to the investigation.

“No nothing.”

Warrant Officer Sander received no official written communication about the corruption investigation other than a Notice of Temporary Placement letter.

“Besides this... No.”

Warrant Officer Sander asserts he was never placed on suspension during the investigation period.

“No, Commissioner.”

Warrant Officer Sander’s immediate superior during the time of the corruption allegations and transfer was Colonel Jacob.

“My immediate superior was Colonel Jacob.”

Warrant Officer Sander never saw the email complaint against him nor was he given official writing of the allegations.

“Never.”

After being informed the enquiry was closed, Warrant Officer Sander’s immediate superiors never discussed the closure with him.

“No.”

Warrant Officer Sander describes his working environment at Support Services as a prison but praises the colleagues he worked with as incredible humans.

“For me, it was prison. The people I work with, are amazing and I will say that over and over again, incredible humans.”

Despite his post not changing on the system, Warrant Officer Sander worked two job descriptions after the transfer: one for Support Services and one for DPCI Serious Organized Crime SANEB.

“I am actually gone back to my very same office at my old office... So, I had two jobs that were running.”

Warrant Officer Sander was verbally warned by Colonel Jacob for running a business as Vice Chairman of a police shooting club without telling the police about his interest in the business.

“I am the Vice Chairman of the police shooting club... I was charged for running a business without telling the police that I had an interest in the business. The outcome of that was a verbal warning by Colonel Jacob.”

Warrant Officer Sander denies engaging with General Senona while at Support Services.

“I do not engage with General Senona, Commissioner.”

Brigadier Nyuswa was also in the office where Warrant Officer Sander worked at Support Services.

“That is correct, Commissioner.”

Brigadier Nyuswa called Warrant Officer Sander to inform him he was being moved back to his old office but was not allowed to work narcotics cases.

“I was called to Brigadier Nyuswa's office. He was told I am going back to my old office, but I was being moved. I was not allowed to work narcotics.”

Warrant Officer Sander claims that Colonel Jama, acting on behalf of General Senona, served a notice to suspend all his salaries and incomes, which he challenged but never received a response.

“Colonel Jama was acting on behalf of General Senona. She served the notice to suspend all my salaries and my incomes, and I challenged it. To that, I never received a response.”

Brigadier Nyuswa told Warrant Officer Sander verbally that he was going back to operational space but was not allowed to work narcotics.

“I did get the verbal response of Brigadier Nyuswa telling me that I am going back to operational space. But I was told I was not allowed to work narcotics.”

Warrant Officer Sander states that a 'scares skills allowance' of R 1,000.00 is important to him financially and was never suspended despite a notice to suspend it.

“It is R 1,000.00. I have been receiving it since its inception, and I work for it. It is mine. ... It was never touched, Commissioner. Maybe the correct wording is, it was a notification to suspend your allowance. ... They never touched it. I still receive it as we speak, Commissioner.”

Warrant Officer Sander was moved to Support Services in February 2024 and then to Economic Protected Resources in August 2025, where he works on various investigations including human trafficking and poaching.

“So you were moved to Support Services in February of 2024. ... And when do you then move out of Support Services? ... 2025/08, in August. ... Economic Protected Resources. ... I am busy with human trafficking investigations. I am busy with quite a few investigations to non-ferrous syndicates, fuel pipelines, infrastructure damage. I have got a wildlife one at the moment with people poaching out at sea.”

Warrant Officer Sander was verbally told that he would not go back to narcotics work but was not given any reason why.

“And they moved you verbally, they said that you would not go back to narcotics. ... Correct. ... Were you given a reason as to why not? ... No.”

Warrant Officer Sander believes he was removed in February 2023 because he was perceived as "standing on their toes" for being very successful and understanding how the syndicate works and the different role players in the environment.

“I think I was standing on their toes. ... Maybe being too successful, too many good recoveries. Understanding how the syndicate works. Understanding who the different role players in the environment were.”

Warrant Officer Sander alleges management did not like his corruption investigation involving theft of exhibits, missing exhibits, and missing dockets, resulting in him applying unsuccessfully for transfer to Durban Central charge office.

“Prior to me being moved, this investigation of the corruption, myself and my immediate Commander were not seeing eye to eye due to, let us just say, there was allegations of theft of exhibits, exhibits going missing, dockets going missing. ... I filed a complaint like that. ... And I do not think management took like to that. That would have been the start. I then applied for a transfer from the DPCI to Organised Crime at the provincial head office ... I applied to go as an Investigator at Durban Central ... that application was changed to Durban Central charge office and the transfer was approved not to, so remember the question is being asked now, do you have scarce skills? Yes. Are you an Investigator? Yes. ...”

Warrant Officer Sander claims he was advised by provincial HR at Durban Central to just sit in his office and leave the matter of 'fighting big people' alone, leading him to cancel his transfer and remain at SCM.

“When I went to the HR at our provincial office, I was told, rather just go sit in your office, drink your coffee, you are now fighting big people, leave it. And I took that advice. You comply. But I cancelled my transfer and I stayed at SCM until where I am today.”

Warrant Officer Sander filed a detailed complaint about missing dockets and exhibits prior to being moved out of his unit.

“This complaint is very specific, Commissioner. ... It is prior to this happening.”

Warrant Officer Sander asserts that disrupting the drug syndicate's supply chain means standing on their toes, which causes them to retaliate.

“If I hit their runners, I am standing on their toes. If I take their drugs away at the wholesale division, that is costing them a lot of money.”

Warrant Officer Sander believes a corrupt policeman and customs official are necessary to keep the drug supply chain functioning properly.

“For the supply chain to work correctly, you need a corrupt policeman there. You need a corrupt customs official, you need a corrupt policeman. Then your system flows.”

Warrant Officer Sander believes SAPS instituted a disciplinary process against him because he was disrupting drug dealing activities.

“So, your belief is that SAPS instituted a disciplinary process against you because you were disruptive of the drug dealing.”

Warrant Officer Sander claims to have found large quantities of drugs (up to 200 kilos at a time) in storage depots and in shipments at sea before arriving in Durban.

“I was finding aton, 200 kilos, 00 kilos. 30 kilos at a time. I was finding it in a ship out at sea before it even came to Durban. I was finding it hidden somewhere.”

Warrant Officer Sander says he did not share his investigative techniques and technology with his colleagues, which caused suspicions.

“Maybe just the way I worked, I did not share that with them. So, they become suspicious of my techniques and my technology.”

Warrant Officer Sander has been moved to support services due to serious corruption allegations but was not formally notified of the charges.

“You have been moved there because of serious corrupt allegations, which you were not given formal notification of what they entailed.”

Warrant Officer Sander reports working outdoors with strict time controls and limited freedom, finding only his coffee machine as a personal safe space before it was stolen.

“I work outside. You clock in through a checkpoint in the morning. You clock out at a checkpoint. There is no time. You cannot go out at a certain time. My only safe space was my coffee machine. And then they stole my coffee machine inside the DPCI.”

Warrant Officer Sander was asked to undergo a polygraph test for the theft of his own coffee machine, which he denied stealing.

“I had to get polygraphed because of the theft of my own coffee machine.”

Warrant Officer Sander claims that despite being accused of corruption, he managed the DPCI armory and passed an audit with clean results from the Auditor General.

“Let us just say my office I had a vault full of fully automatic weapons at my disposal...I took over the armoury for the DPCI....We got a clean audit from the Auditor General for all our weapons and ammunition....If I was corrupt, I would not sell drugs, I would sell guns.”

Warrant Officer Sander describes work at support services as isolating and likened it to being in prison.

“In that position you described it as being in prison.”

General Senona accused Warrant Officer Sander of theft of items, including his coffee machine, leading to a polygraph test.

“General Senona. There were other items that were going missing in the environment. And, again, I was seen as a suspect and I had to go and get polygraphed for the theft of my own coffee machine.”

Warrant Officer Sander reports investigating high-profile cases involving wildlife crimes, human trafficking to Cambodia, and illegal poaching.

“I am dealing with some pretty high-profile cases....I have human trafficking with people going to Cambodia that were trafficked, nearly 200 and something people.”

Warrant Officer Sander reports he is satisfied working in the anti-human trafficking division and reports to Colonel Jacob.

“I am happy. It is a nice group to work with. We are actually doing very well.... I still report to Colonel Jacob.”

Warrant Officer Sander states he cannot return to narcotics work but would love to.

“I would love to go back, but I cannot.”

Warrant Officer Sander has been a warrant officer since 2003.

“How long have you been a warrant officer? 2003.”

Warrant Officer Sander denied knowing the source of an email sent to head office that was used to wave allegations against him.

“N o n e o f a n y o f y o u r s t a t e m e n t s r i g h t n o w . T h e a n s w e r i s n o , n o , n o , n o , n o , n o , n o .”

There was an email to General regarding allegations but Warrant Officer Sander did not see it and could not confirm its contents or source.

“T h e G e n e r a l h a d a n e m a i l ,”

Warrant Officer Sander stated that a circulated email concerning allegations against him could have been false.

“I t c o u l d a l s o b e a f a l s e e m a i l .”

Warrant Officer Sander denied the allegations against him as false.

“B u t , C o m m i s s i o n e r , f r o m my s i d e , i f I m a y , i t i s f a l s e .”

Warrant Officer Sander was unhappy with the draft statement prepared by Colonel Jacob and requested edits before signing it.

“H e r e a d i t a t f i r s t . I w a s n o t h a p p y w i t h w h a t h e w o u l d w r i t t e n , a n d I s a i d t o h i m h e n e e d e d t o e d i t a fe w t h i n g s .”

Warrant Officer Sander was called by Colonel Jacob for his exit interview related to early retirement and to talk about cases and convictions.

“I w a s c a l l e d b y C o l o n e l J a c o b . N o , I w a s n o t c a l l e d b y h i m . I t w a s - m y o f f i c e i s r i g h t b e l o w h i s o f f i c e . I a m a p p l y i n g f o r e a r l y r e t i r e m e n t , a n d m y e x i t i n t e r v i e w a n d m y p a p e r w o r k h a s t o b e d o n e b y C o l o n e l J a c o b .”

Colonel Jacob wanted to prepare a statement to be signed by Warrant Officer Sander regarding a seizure rebutting a statement made by General Flynn.

“H e s a i d t o m e h e w o u l d b e e n a p p r o a c h e d , a n d h e h a d t o g i v e a s t a t e m e n t f o r M a d l a n g a . H e w a n t e d j u s t t o c o n f i r m a v e r s i o n o f h i s r e g a r d i n g a s e i z u r e t h a t I h a d m a d e a t C H C .”

Warrant Officer Sander applied for early retirement due to work-related reasons and is accepting it despite having 40 years' service and not expecting promotion.

“I t i s r e l a t e d t o w o r k . ... I w a n t e d 4 2 . I w i l l t a k e 4 0 . I a m n o t g o i n g t o g e t p r o m o t e d .”

Warrant Officer Sander stated that there will be no further promotion in SAPS at his current rank and taking early retirement is logical.

“I w i l l n o t q u a l i f y f o r a n y f u r t h e r p r o m o t i o n i n t h e S A P S a t m y c u r r e n t r a n k . ... T h e r e a r e q u i t e a f e w o t h e r f e l l o w m e m b e r s t h a t w e a r e a l l a p p l y i n g t o l e a v e .”

Warrant Officer Sander stated that early retirement applications are subject to SAPS management approval and questioned how 40 years of skills can be transferred in 2 months.

“T h a t i s i m p o s s i b l e . F o r t y y e a r s o f s k i l l s , h o w d o y o u t r a n s f e r i t i n 2 m o n t h s ?”

Warrant Officer Sander has over 40 years' experience in narcotics-related police work and is known as one of the 'golden diamond people' in Durban KZN specialising in evaluation of diamonds, gold, and platinum.

“h e r a n d h e r s i s t e r a r e t w i n s , s h e i s t h e c o l o n e l m a s t e r , a n d m y c u r r e n t p a r t n e r i s o n e o f t h e o l d g o l d e n d i a m o n d p e o p l e . ... T h a t v a c u u m , t h a t s p a c e c a n n e v e r b e f i l l e d .”

Warrant Officer Sander led an operation on 5 February 2020 at CHC Container Depot, Isipingo, where approximately 570 kilograms of suspected Mandrax and Mandrax powder were seized.

“O n 2 0 2 0 - 0 2 - 0 5 , I h e a d e d a n o p e r a t i o n a t C H C C o n t a i n e r D e p o t i n I s i p i n g o . ... r e f e r s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 5 7 0 k i l o g r a m s o f s u s p e c t e d M a n d r a x a n d M a n d r a x p o w d e r w a s s e i z e d d u r i n g t h i s o p e r a t i o n .”

Warrant Officer Sander had no prior disciplinary action or complaints against him before allegations led to his removal.

“B e f o r e t h i s s i t u a t i o n w h e r e y o u a r e t o l d t h e r e a r e a l l e g a t i o n s a g a i n s t y o u a n d y o u g e t r e m o v e d , h a d y o u h a d p r i o r c a s e s o f d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n a g a i n s t y o u ? ... N o . ... N o t . ... N o .”

Warrant Officer Sander booked exhibits into SAP 13 register via Isipingo SAP and noted members were making sick due to the exhibits.

“He made it clear that these exhibits were to be booked out the following day. He indicated that they did not have members to guard these exhibits. I booked these exhibits into SAP 13 register via Isipingo SAP 13163/2020. On the following day, the date as I mentioned is incorrect, it is 02-06. Someone from my office called me to inform me that Isipingo SAP called, indicating that the exhibits were making the members sick. I proceeded to Isipingo SAP with a team. I noticed the charge office members were outside the building. I did then book out the exhibits for analysis with Warrant Officer Perumal countersigning the SAP 13 register to acknowledge the same.”

In the operation to seize Mandrax exhibits, store clerk Warrant Officer Perumal initially refused to store the exhibits but eventually agreed to store them in the armoury with the help of Captain Beavon and Constable Ronnie.

“H e e v e n t u a l l y a g r e e d t o a c c o m m o d a t e u s b y s t o r i n g t h e e x h i b i t s i n t h e a r m o u r y i n t h e c h a r g e o f f i c e . C a p t a i n B e a v o n a n d C o n s t a b l e R o n n i e a s s i s t e d m e t o m o v e t h e f i r e a r m s a r o u n d t o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e s e e x h i b i t s .”

Durban Central SAP agreed to assist with storage of exhibits after Isipingo SAP could not accommodate them.

“I knew that Isipingo SAP would not take these exhibits back. I am unsure how it transpired, but I do recall that Durban Central SAP had agreed to assist with storage of these exhibits. We stored these drugs at a vault at Durban Central SAP.”

FSL Pretoria disposed of exhibits by destruction on 2021-11-12 which were conveyed to them for that purpose.

“On 2021-11-12, the FSL Pretoria was able to dispose these exhibits, which were conveyed to them for destruction.”

The substance causing members to get sick from the exhibits was Methaqualone, the active ingredient of Mandrax, emitting toxic vapour causing members to get sick and feel nauseous.

“Commissioner, it is Methaqualone. So, the active ingredient of Mandrax is Methaqualone. But some people will tell you it is the Anthranilic acid that actually gives off the vapour that is so toxic. It is not a pleasant smell, Commissioner. ... The smell is what we are talking about here. So that is what makes you sick. It makes you nauseous. It can give you heart palpitations. ... They did get sick. And that is, it is true, you do get sick.”

Methaqualone is used medically for PTSD and sleep deprivation therapies but is abused recreationally; it produces relaxation but is not a regulated medicine.

“It is actually used for PTSD and sleep deprivation therapy, and a couple of other therapies. But it is known in America as Quaaludes. ... It relaxes you. ... Medicine is regulated. We know what the reactions are. Drugs is a different story.”

Methaqualone is sold bound into tablets in South Africa, crushed and smoked, causing the toxic smell and fumes.

“The Methaqualone is bound into a tablet, and the tablet is then taken and sold. You do not swallow the tablet. You actually crush the tablet and mix it with something else, and then you smoke it. ... The smell, to conceal it, it was in thick vacuum-packed plastic. ... The South African Police's exhibit bags have micro-perforations that allow fumes to escape, causing sickness to members.”

Police exhibit bags have micro-perforations to allow breathing but this causes toxic fumes to come out and affect members, some of whom fell sick and required hospital treatment.

“The South African Police's exhibit bags are designed in such a way that they must not contain certain things, or they must be not tamper-proof. They actually have holes in them, but it is not something that the public must say, oh, you have got holes in them. It is micro-perforations so that the bag can breathe. But that means those fumes are coming off. ... Some members did book off sick. ... I had my partner rushed to hospital, to u Mhlanga hospital, and I had a member from customs collapse on the scene. All had to be treated by ambulance on scene at CHC. So the smell is what we are talking about here. So that is what makes you sick. It makes you nauseous. It can give you heart palpitations.”

Clan labs manufacture Methaqualone and Mandrax; cocaine bricks are waterproof and wrapped in multiple layers to prevent detection by smell or narcotics detection.

“Clan labs deal with respect of Methaqualone as well. ... The brick is transported by road and sea. If it gets dumped into the water, it must float or be able to be recovered. It is worth a lot of money. Therefore, it is waterproof. I have dismantled many, many, many Cocaine bricks. It is layer upon layer upon layer of cling wrap, latex housing, condoms, and then again more, and then tape, and then again more, to stop the fume coming out of the box, if I can say that.”

The SAPS do not have suitable storage facilities for drugs like Methaqualone that would avoid the hazards described.

“If I answer this question honestly, I will get fired today. I will say no. The correct place where to store it would be something like Pretoria Forensic Science Laboratory. I am not going to mention the other locations.”

The storage facilities at Pretoria Forensic Science Laboratory are chaotic and expose workers to hazards, making them unsuitable for storing drugs like Methaqualone.

“I myself have been deep into the big vault. I have been there I have seen it. It is chaos. It is chaos. The problem is working in that chaos is exactly the question the Commissioner is asking now, do the people that work there be exposed to hazards? The answer is yes.”

The storage of drug exhibits like Methaqualone is hazardous and expensive to handle, store, and dispose of.

“The storage of exhibits is a problem. It is very expensive to handle them, to store them, and to dispose of them. But I am sure our competent members from the police management, they are doing their utmost to get us the best place to store exhibits like that. But exhibits like this are hazardous.”

If suitable storage was available at Isipingo, the seized 541 kg of Mandrax could have been stored there, avoiding health issues caused by improper storage.

“Yes.”

Warrant Officer Sander was made a suspect by General Senona in connection with the Port Shepstone theft and was polygraphed, although he was never at the Port Shepstone office or involved in the theft.

“I was a suspect. I was called in I was polygraphed for it. I was never there. That is all I know about the Port Shepstone matter.”

Warrant Officer Sander did not work at the Port Shepstone office during the period after November when the theft happened, nor was he based there at any time.

“No, Commissioner. Never been there, Commissioner, until I was working at SEM.”

Warrant Officer Sander was not aware that the stolen drugs had been taken to a specific storage location and had no knowledge of where they had been stored.

“No. Thank you, Commissioner. No, I had no knowledge of that, Commissioner. I did not even know it was there, Commissioner.”

Warrant Officer Sander's polygraph examination related specifically to the Port Shepstone theft case, and his polygraph report indicated deception during the examination.

“This is the polygraph examination report related to the polygraph examinations that were taken. ... at number 8, page 426, number 8, your name is there. ... the DI, would indicate, DI indicates detection, there was deception indicated.”

During the polygraph examination, Warrant Officer Sander was asked questions related to whether he stole exhibits, used state resources improperly, or was part of a plan to steal exhibits related to the Port Shepstone incident.

“Was I involved in the theft of the exhibits from Port Shepstone? Did I have information or I knew where the drugs were? They were all questions related to the housebreaking or the theft for whatever happened at Port Shepstone. ... Did you steal any of those exhibits? Did you steal any of that exhibits from that safe? Were you part of any plan to steal any of those exhibits?”

Warrant Officer Sander was not informed of the outcome of his polygraph test and only learned about the deception result on the day of this hearing.

“Were you informed of the outcome of the polygraph test? - No. - When did you first find out that your polygraph result for this polygraph was deception indicated? - Now, Commissioner. - Now today? - Yes, Commissioner.”

The polygraph examination included personal and lifestyle questions beyond the incident itself.

“They do like an interview and they base questions in between as well, to do with your life, to do with your day-to-day stuff.”

Warrant Officer Sander admitted to using state resources incorrectly.

“Did you use state resources that was not done correctly, yes.”

A number of SANEB members, including Warrant Officer Sander, were polygraphed in connection with the Port Shepstone theft, but some names of members who took the test are missing from the list.

“I recall all of the SANEB members. ... Myself, number 8, number 21, 24, 26, 29, 30, 31. ... I think it is number 6, not number 5. I am not sure of their initials.”

There are two polygraph examination reports related to certain events, one unsigned and the other finalized and signed by FSL, but it is unclear if the signed one was submitted to the DPCI, and investigations continue regarding discrepancies in reporting.

“this polygraph examination, it was then finalised ... but we do not know when it was submitted ... There is another report that is also relating to the polygraph which I want to refer to. It is an unsigned report ... one is signed by FSL ... We do not know whether it had been submitted to the DPCI ... we are still investigating the differences in the reporting”

Warrant Officer Sander's name does not appear on the list of members tested as deceptive in the polygraph reports, and he was not informed of the results of his polygraph due to an examiner error resulting in no opinion being recorded.

“your name does not appear there ... again, you were not informed of the results of the polygraph ... no opinion was recorded for the following members due to examiner error, and your name is the second name there”

Warrant Officer Sander confirms he was on leave both when the seizure of exhibits occurred and when a housebreaking and theft incident took place, and was not present at either scene.

“I was on leave when the seizure was made ... I might have also still been on leave ... when the housebreaking took place, the theft ... I was never at either of those scenes”

After returning from leave, the entire office of Warrant Officer Sander was called in and paraded in the boardroom where members from Serious and Violent Crimes and other sections were given instructions related to polygraph testing.

“Our whole office was called in and we were paraded ... We were in the boardroom ... members from the Serious and Violent Crimes ... plus other sections”

Colonel Jacob believed statements made before the Madlanga Commission about an operation in 2020 were incorrect and required rebuttal; therefore, Warrant Officer Sander was asked to provide a statement to corroborate the existence of an issue at Isipingo Police Station.

“The Colonel was of the opinion that statements made before the Madlanga Commission were incorrect ... he needed to further explain ... corroborate the fact that there was an issue at Isipingo Police Station”

Despite the request, Warrant Officer Sander states that the version he was required to support about the 2022 incident at Isipingo Police Station actually makes the situation look worse, but he complied with the request to provide a supporting statement.

“I am still of the opinion that it does not support him. It actually makes it look worse. But ... that is what has been requested of me. I have complied.”

On the day in question of the February 2020 bust, Warrant Officer Sander was contacted by a senior colleague from the SARS customs narcotics section about irregularities involving Mandrax being moved at the CHC Depot and he asked Metro Police Captain Greg Beavon for assistance.

“One of their seniors phoned me and he said he has got an issue ... there was an amount of Mandrax found at CHC Depot ... irregularities ... I called a colleague from the Metro Police, Captain Greg Beavon ... can you help me?”

At the CHC Depot, there is access control and containers related to drug busts are located at the back; Warrant Officer Sander is familiar with the layout having worked there before.

“We check in at the main gate ... there is access control at Isipingo going into CHC depot ... we get directed to the back ... I have worked there before, so I know the layout pretty well.”

The CHC Depot is the same depot where a large cocaine seizure of 541 kg occurred, linking the site to significant drug-related criminality.

“CHC depot is the same depot where the 541 kg of Cocaine was found”

The Mandrax bust in June 2021 and another bust occurred at the same CHC Depot.

“Your Mandrax bust and the June 2021 bust happens at the same depot”

Warrant Officer Sander's vehicle was a VW Caddy modified with a mobile crime scene lab equipped with PPE, bags, and even a coffee machine to allow working on scenes for hours without leaving.

“My vehicle was a VW Caddy. I have a mobile crime scene lab in the back of my vehicle. I have got PPE, bags, you name it. I do not have to leave. I have even got a coffee machine in there.”

The mobile crime scene lab equipment must be operationally health and safety compliant, including PPE, hard hat, reflective equipment, gloves, and Covid compliance.

“PPE, personal protective kit, hard hat and reflective equipment, which you must have in that working environment. It is an operational health and safety compliant facility... and if I am correct, at that stage was COVID. So, we had to be COVID compliant as well.”

Warrant Officer Sander keeps a store of various sizes of exhibit bags at their office, including large black skips used for bulky exhibits, and sometimes obtains additional bags from other police stations when required.

“Those came from our own office...We have got lots. We have a storeroom on our third floor. It is packed... there have been scenes where there were possibly bags that did not fit or some of these things we get from government tender, they do not work. So, the seals do not seal. So, I would be able to make the necessary phone calls... we are going to take all their stock and we just bring it to our scene and we work from there.”

Warrant Officer Sander received various special equipment such as different gloves from FSL, tar mac suits from Pretoria, and neck tests from American sources as part of joint SAPS DEA training.

“I can say I have gone to FSL, they have given me different gloves. I have gone to Pretoria they have given me tarmac suits. Neck tests we would get from the Americans... And I believe I do that in my work.”

On arriving at a customs depot, Warrant Officer Sander found a box with a torn customs sticker containing Mandrax tablets, identified by smell and visual markings, and was informed that a narcotics dog detected the narcotics in the box.

“I could see it straight away. It was Mandrax... I could smell it, because the bag had been torn... They said they had put a narcotics dog in... Tequila reacted therein seconds. It was positive...”

Warrant Officer Sander says he calls the FSL and LCRC because he has a relationship with the clan lab team and they come out if it is worthwhile in seizures.

“I always do. I have got a relationship with the clan lab team. I will call them. They will not come out. It is a seizure. But if I find something and they know it is worthwhile coming out, they came out.”

Discovered packing tape discrepancies in the bonded warehouse shipment led to finding additional boxes containing Mandrax, which were seized by police and processed with cooperation from the warehouse.

“I noticed on the box the packing tape in the shipment was different to the packing tape on the other side of the yard... I said, there is our boxes... And we did... and believe it or not, that is where the Mandrax was. So, we seized those boxes amongst that...”

There was a seizure where Chinese wine tested positive for methamphetamine, and LCRC came out to confirm findings and collection of samples.

“we found there was wine, Chinese wine, but it tested positive for Methamphetamine. So, we were not sure if it was drugs or not. So, they actually came back onto the scene with us to confirm what we had found and how we collected our samples”

LCRC's role includes photographing the crime scene to preserve evidence digitally and taking fingerprints and DNA to preserve and record the crime scene for court.

“With modern technology, a photograph becomes a museum of the crime scene... It can not move without being manly handled. So by him touching it, he would leave a latent fingerprint on the scene, which we need. And at the same time, he would also leave part of his DNA behind, which we also takes swabs for. So it is DNA, it is fingerprints, and it is crime scene preservation and recording for court.”

Warrant Officer Sander is required to call LCRC to a crime scene and explains their role in photographing and fingerprinting for court evidence.

“you are required to call them to a scene”

Photographs and notes are crucial to record and corroborate evidence and help with witness statements and identification in court.

“Otherwise, you will never keep up to what is happening... So it is nice to keep those notes.”

In some circumstances it is not possible to get LCRC to come out, for example 16 nautical miles out at sea where a shipment of cocaine was hidden in a fridge, which is a hazardous environment and they are not qualified or prepared.

“I was asked about a scene where fingerprints could not come out. 16 nautical mile out at sea, we removed a shipment of Cocaine out of a fridge... The fingerprint guys and the FSL guys are not qualified to go out to sea. They are not prepared to go and put their lives at stake and go 16 nautical miles out to sea... It is a hazardous environment.”

LCRC was not called out to two seizures involving the Polonia vessels and Manu Chao seizure, but they were called to the others.

“From the aforementioned, I was able to ascertain that unlike the June 2021 seizure: 1. LCRC was called to the scene... except the second Polonia vessel seizure and the Manu Chao seizure.”

Warrant Officer Sander did not call LCRC for a seizure about 12 nautical miles out at sea off the coast of Umhlanga Rocks because it was a covert operation involving a small skiboat and bad seas, and they did not know drugs were on board before the search.

“Approx 12 nautical miles out at sea off the coast of Umhlanga Rocks... a small skiboat was used, very quiet, covert operation sent to search the container for drugs... We did not know the drugs were going to be there... So the other thing is we did not call LCRC...”

Warrant Officer Sander explains that once exhibits are brought on land sealed in an exhibit bag, LCRC could take photographs but he chose not to call them at that stage so as not to break the seal.

“They would have taken a photograph of the sealed exhibit bag... I was not going to break the seal on the exhibit bag... So looking back yes I should have possibly called LCRC to the shore...”

The package found at the scene contained damaged or mishandled goods that were repackaged to conceal the original contents, specifically bentonite in one-tonne bags, which is a chemical product used in soap or kitty litter and can void fingerprints and DNA on the packaging.

“when a package is damaged or mishandled in any way not how it was declared or packaged, the shipper then repackages it to make sure that the original stuff is what was originally said. And what they do is, in this case it was Bentonite... The bricks were hidden in one-tonne bags of Bentonite... Bentonite is dusty. It would have devoid any fingerprints on the outside. And it would also have made the DNA of whoever had handled those bags devoid because it is the same as soap, just without the water.”

The scene of the Manu Chao incident was taken over by senior officers, specifically Colonel Sibiya.

“So I called out my seniors. They took over that scene. But with regards to Manu Chao, that was about it for me.”

Experts from the Local Criminal Records Centre or Forensic Science Laboratory make statements regarding their work at the scene under section 212 of the Criminal Procedure Act, and their compiled photo albums are deemed accurate and unmanipulated evidence.

“when an expert from the Local Criminal Records Centre or Forensic Science Laboratory attends a scene, they do a statement. It is in terms of section 212 of the Criminal Procedure Act. And it is deemed that they have done their work correctly and they have not manipulated the exhibits, and it is done as such, and they have compiled an album, and they are saying that it is true as such. That is what this statement is.”

The police cordon tape seen in the photograph is used to secure the scene at the CHC Depot bonded section.

“that is the entrance gate to the bonded section of CHC Depot. It is police cordon tape, ma'am.”

By the time the police arrive at the scene, the goods have already been removed from the container and are subject to inspection, unpacking, repacking and moving within the yard area of the CHC Depot.

“now, at this stage, we are not dealing with a container. The goods were already taken out of the container... your inspection by the police members, your unpacking and repacking and moving from one container into the yard happens there.”

The CHC Depot security and operations are cooperative with police operations, with access requiring collaboration with depot managers, and all operations comply with occupational health and safety regulations including CCTV monitoring.

“There is a process. We call the depot manager, which is CHC. CHC will then give us their operations manager to attend... they do it for you. Everything there, we do not move, they move. They do it all for you. They are very cooperative... the location where you are working, they are compliant in terms of risk and management, occupational health, so health and safety. The whole place is under CCTV. So we are actually being monitored by them in case something happens to us... we comply with their occupational health and safety to be safe... it is a happy relationship that goes to the conduciveness of solving the crime at our time.”

Customs found suspected Mandrax tablets in one of the unpacked boxes and became the custodian of the goods, as the scene and exhibits belong to Customs during the investigation.

“discovered that one of the boxes contained suspected Mandrax tablets. So now, because they have found it, they become the custodian because it is in a Customs area ... the scene and the exhibits belong to Customs.”

Customs was the original complainant in the investigation, having detained a shipment suspected to contain illicit counterfeit goods including skin lightening creams, hair products, and counterfeit sunglasses.

“Customs, in this matter, were the original complainant to myself. So Customs had detained this shipment of, it was suspected to be illicit goods. Counterfeit... It was skin lightening creams, it was hair products, it was counterfeit sunglasses. It was a whole lot of illicit and counterfeit.”

There were two different detained goods manifests dated 23 January 2020, relating to different container numbers from two different vessels likely loaded through different ports.

“So there is one on 223 and another on 225 and it has different container numbers ... it is two different vessels ... used a different port to load some of their equipment ... suspects.”

The handling over of detained goods from Customs to SARS involves a dual inspection process targeting other containers to find more illicit goods.

“But because it came from a container, SARS goes further with their investigations and then they profile which group of containers are coming in on the vessel or part of that and they detain all of those containers for inspection ... we do a dual inspection of the other containers hoping to find 10 more illicit goods.”

Profiling of containers includes checking databases for history of the shipper or past transgressions to support profiling by Customs and SARS.

“From my side, we have to rely on our databases to see if there is history with the import of the shipper or transgressions. Customs has that. I know they do have that. So that helps them with their profiling.”

I was called by the narcotics section to receive the scene and take over the investigation related to detained goods.

“It was then narcotics section that called me. The person on the top ... hands the scene over to myself.”

The initial presumptive drug test on detained wine yields a false positive for methamphetamine, leading to calling the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for further testing.

“Because I was not happy that the wine was wine. I suspected it to be a substance containing methamphetamine ... initial test gave us a false positive ... is that why you called FSL? ... that is correct.”

FSL is not ordinarily called to scenes because it is not a clan lab, but is called when there are strange chemicals and requires collaboration with SARS lab (LCRC).

“Ordinarily FSL would not have come to the scene because it is not a clan lab ... but when we have strange chemicals ... we work together ... I have got a relationship with them.”

The correct procedure for recovery of chemical substances at scenes is to call the LCRC first, but FSL can also be called if necessary.

“For a recovery ... as standard recovery we call out LCRC, not FSL ... if it is chemicals and items I do not know and I need guidance with, I will tell them such ... you can call either one first ... but preferably LCRC.”

The preferred location to place exhibits in bags is at the crime scene unless there is a valid reason to do elsewhere, which is highly unlikely at CHC depot.

“Is it at the scene or can it be done elsewhere? ... at the scene ... if it is not, there would have to be a reason why you are moving it ... from CHC? ... no reason ... I do not think there could be a reason.”

Exhibit bags are called for at the scene if not present to ensure proper collection and handling of exhibits.

“If you get to the scene, you have the exhibit bags ready. And if you do not have them, you would call for exhibit bags. You would make arrangements to get exhibit bags.”

At the 2020 bust, exhibit bags were sometimes insufficient in size and were supplemented by arrangements with SAPS Sydenham.

“If I am correct in this one, I had some exhibit bags. And then after, I think we might have run short on the big ones, we had arranged a facility, members had gone to pick us up at SAPS Sydenham.”

At the 2020 operation, Marijuana was considered a safer drug in Umlazi compared to Mandrax, which was regarded as the biggest drug threat at that time.

“At that time, the biggest drug used in Umlazi ... was Mandrax ... I think Mandrax would have been pretty much a threat as well. ... That thought did not cross my mind. It is safe here.”

The crime scene at CHC is guarded by Metro and SAPS personnel and has security checks including a gate and controlled access.

“Before you can get in ... there is security at the front ... gate you go through ... check you in ... drive nearly 300 metres before you can get to the container stack ... I had Metro there ... SAPS there ... we were all armed ... I believe we are safe.”

Processing the crime scene can take from morning until five in the afternoon, causing disruption to commerce during that time.

“I was there from the morning until five in the afternoon, the evening ... in February 2020.”

Occupational health and safety for members conducting the crime scene investigation and access by all relevant role players are main constraints when conducting checks at the CHC location.

“The main constraint would be occupational health and safety for the members doing the crime scene, and access by all relevant role players. So you do not want to box yourself in.”

Police officers need a relationship with the warehouse to effectively conduct crime scene investigation involving narcotics containers, including unpacking and inspecting them.

“So the constraints are you need to have a relationship with the warehouse before you start . Once you have got that , you must be prepared to work because everything should be able to be done there ... It is called an unpack . Unpack and visual inspection .”

Police do not have the necessary machines or trucks to move containers at crime scenes, relying on the warehouse to move containers and provide empty containers if needed.

“The police do not have the machines to move them , the trucks , nothing .”

People who are not part of the crime scene management should be excluded to ensure accurate investigation, but this is difficult practically due to lack of means to cordon off the area, especially in busy depots.

“There is no means of cordoning off an area and preventing other people who are not part of the crime scene management to isolate them from that scene ... I am trying to understand that practically.”

Police who are not part of the crime scene management team can contaminate the crime scene by interfering or being present.

“The people that bother you on the scene are policemen that should not be on the scene . That is who contaminates your scene .”

Police and media personnel coming onto the crime scene cause contamination and disruption to the scene management.

“It is the police that want to come in and see and the media that comes with them , and they want to take a video and look and touch . That is what contaminates your crime scene .”

Crime scenes at warehouses can be locked down and preserved for as long as required to prevent contamination or disruption.

“Can you lockdown a crime scene at a warehouse , my answer , Commissioner , is yes . How long can you do it for ? As long as you want to . I have proven that my longest is two and a half days .”

Police officers have experienced scenarios where others micromanaged their crime scenes at depots, though they have not felt personally unsafe.

“Have you had instances where there were threats of harm or interference with what you were doing as you were managing the scene?... Have I ever felt unsafe at the scene ? I will say no , if I can , Commissioner.”

Police officers transported exhibits themselves or with colleagues across the country to unknown locations safely without being attacked or assaulted.

“I transported those exhibits myself , or with colleagues across the country ... We were never attacked . We were never assaulted . We were never diverted from our route . We were safe .”

The geography and setup of the CHC warehouse do not pose fears of risk or attack during police seizure operations.

“You are able to say ... that CHC , its geography , its setup there , and what happens when the police run an operation there of a seizure , it does not pose any fears of risk or an attack that you can think of .”

Bone meal as a foreign food product must be inspected and cleared by the Department of Health, not by SARS.

“It is actually the Department of Health, not SARS.”

A container with goods including bone meal was supposed to be cleared by a clearing agent and transporter from a bonded area and driven out; the goods were detained due to association with other counterfeit goods from the same shipper.

“they would have to have driven it out. So someone would have to have cleared it from the bonded area, loaded it in a truck, and driven it out. So we are looking at a clearing agent and a transporter.”

The bone meal goods were detained because of other counterfeit goods from the same shipper on the container.

“here we are talking about the container and these goods were detained because of the other counterfeit goods from the same shipper.”

The inspection and clearance of bone meal containers by the Department of Health happens at the container opening location, depot, or respective shipping company location such as CHC, Grindrod, or Maersk.

“As you open the container... If it is at CHC, at CHC. If it is at Grindrod, at Grindrod. If it is at Maersk, it is at Maersk. It is done right there.”

Bone meal is used in processed food, pet food, and bulked processed food; it's an animal product requiring inspection and clearance by the Department of Health because it is imported foreign food which might not be fit for human consumption.

“It is bone meal. Funny enough, half of the people eat it anyway. It is used in making processed food, for bulking processed food, pet food, stuff like that. It is sad, but it is. Unscrupulous people do put it in. So it is dumped here as waste, but it carries duty. But because it is a food product and an animal product, the Department of Health must clear it.”

The cocaine found in the June 2021 bust would have been seen by the person opening the container as well as supervisors and Department of Health officials, implying they might have detected it.

“they would have presumably found the cocaine amongst that? ... It would have been the poor guy that opened that container from CHC. He would have been the first guy to see it. Then with him would have been the supervisor and the guys from the Department of Health. So the answer is in the end, yes.”

Department of Health does checks at the place where the container is loaded for inspection, not in a special area.

“It will be wherever their container is loaded. ... No, it is where those containers come, they will check it.”

The bone meal in the June 2021 bust was inspected by the Department of Health.

“So that would have, in any event, been inspected by the Department of Health? ... Department of Health, yes.”

To intercept drugs undetected, the drugs would have to be taken before entering CHC, possibly when offloading the vessel, during container stacking at Piers, en route to packing areas or on the road; suspects could include stevedores, transporters, Customs, and police.

“They would have taken it before it got into CHC. ... So it could have been when it came off the vessel and put into the container stack alongside Pier 1, Pier 2 or New Pier. It could have been en route from New Pier to the packing area and it could have been on the road. So again, stevedores, transporter, Customs, police.”

There is a container identification and management system involving electronic signals from Transnet that controls container movement, and suspects know how to manipulate this to steal drugs.

“For the container to move, an electronic signal must come from Transnet to release that container onto the ground. The machine comes, picks the container up. ... So we pick up their irregularities when an unauthorised move puts that from level two and three on the ground. If it has been moved to the ground without authorisation, rip-on-rip-off takes place. ... The suspects know that.”

Rip-on-rip-off is a form of drug theft that occurs when unauthorized container movement to ground level happens, leading to stealing after truck leaves the controlled area at the harbor.

“That is rip-on-rip-off. ... Highly likely the moment that truck leaves the controlled boom by Pier 1 or Pier 2 or New Pier, they will break the seal, take the drugs. Because normal people can have access to that part of the harbour. It is a risk.”

To steal drugs inside the depot without being detected, one would need to be a staff member to carry out the theft slowly and surely, which limits access and identifies the suspect.

“You can, but then you need to be part of the depot. ... You would be a staff member and then you would slowly but surely carry the stuff out of that part of the section. But it would limit you for your access to that site. So it would identify a suspect to us.”

Police have access to the depot and can lawfully seize drugs under various legislative Acts including the Criminal Procedure Act, Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, Medicines Control Act, and Customs and Exiles Act.

“The police is allowed to be there. It is part of our duties. If I have got information of the drugs being there, there is elements in the Criminal Procedure Act, the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, the Medicines Control Act. They allow certain elements there. We can also rely on the Customs and Exiles Act because we can enforce that. So if you are asking how would a policeman go in there and take it and drive out, you could.”

In this February 2020 case, someone from SARS was going to steal the Mandrax.

“So somebody from SARS was going to steal the Mandrax? Correct.”

In a February 2020 incident, someone from SARS was unscrupulous and intended to move the Mandrax tablets from a bonded warehouse container.

“The original call was there was someone from SARS that was unscrupulous and going to move the tablets.”

After seizure, drugs are bagged, photographed by LCRC, and booked into SAPS SAP13 relevant to the area, specifically Isipingo Police Station.

“WA R R A N T O F F I C E R S A N D E R”

Isipingo police station did not have a dedicated safe space in its SAP 13 room for exhibits, including drugs, so the armory space was used to store Mandrax tablets.

“They said they did not have safe space in their SAP13 room... they showed me the armoury, but it did have weapons and articles and I said, please let me move the stuff for you... we then literally manhandled all the gun racks and the rifles and everything into the area and that gave us space to store the Mandrax tablets inside there.”

Isipingo police station has no dedicated storage specifically for drugs, only a general exhibits storage room with various types of evidence mixed together.

“Page 150 of 201 is no such thing as a dedicated storage for drugs at a police station. It is a general exhibits storage room.”

For large scale seizures like copper, diesel, or illicit diesel, Warrant Officer Sander relies on SARS for storing the exhibits due to lack of space at the police station.

“To say for large scale seizures we battle every day. Copper, diesel, illicit diesel. I have got no space to store it. Too late now. I have got no place to store it. I rely on SARS for storing it.”

Guns and armoury items at Isipingo remain stored in the same room; they were only pushed aside to make space for drug exhibits.

“those guns did not leave that room. We just moved them and pushed them to the side to make space so we could put our drugs inside there.”