A key witness in the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has applied to give evidence behind closed doors due to safety concerns. The witness, who wishes to remain anonymous, has supplied a supporting affidavit to motivate for an order directing that the testimony be heard in camera.
The application arises from hearings that commenced on Tuesday regarding a major drug theft of 541 bricks of cocaine valued at R200 million from Hawks premises in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Major-General Hendrik Flynn, Component Head for Serious Organised Crime at the SAPS Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), told the commission that the theft of cocaine from the Hawks premises was intentional.
Background to the Application
The commission heard that 547 kg of mandrax had been stored at Isipingo Police Station’s SAP13 store 16 months earlier, yet there was suddenly insufficient space to store 541 kg of cocaine. As a result, the cocaine was taken to a DPCI storage facility in Port Shepstone. It was not stored at Maydon Wharf, Brighton Beach, Umbilo, or Durban Central.
According to Flynn’s testimony, KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona did not follow prescripts for handling the keys to the Port Shepstone warehouse, where the cocaine bricks went missing following a mysterious burglary in 2021.
Witness Testimony
The anonymous witness, expected to take the stand on Friday, serves as a pivotal figure in the investigation team, reportedly possessing extensive knowledge vital to the inquiry. Their anticipated testimony is not only set to address the seizure of the drugs at Durban harbour but will also delve into the processes surrounding the storage and handling of the seized narcotics, along with insights pertaining to the ongoing investigations into the Port Shepstone theft.
According to the affidavit, the sensitivity of the evidence warrants utmost confidentiality. The witness is prepared to discuss information pertaining to investigative findings, policing methods, and details about confidential informants that have not been disclosed to the public. For more information on the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) procedures, visit the SAPS website.
The investigations are interconnected, and disclosure in respect of one investigation would create a real risk of exposing details of other ongoing investigations. The witness’s testimony may also shed light on the SAPS handling of sensitive cases.
- The theft of 541 bricks of cocaine valued at R200 million
- The mysterious burglary in 2021
- The investigation into the Port Shepstone theft
