The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has resolved to hear the testimony of a crime intelligence officer, known as Witness H, behind closed doors due to safety concerns. The witness is scheduled to testify before the commission on Friday, May 8, 2026, and will be in camera with no video or audio feed to the public.
Background to the Application
The background to 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.
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.
Witness H’s Role in the Investigation
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. The witness serves as a pivotal figure in the investigation team, reportedly possessing extensive knowledge vital to the inquiry.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is a national institution responsible for maintaining law and order in the country. The Hawks, a directorate within the SAPS, is responsible for investigating serious and organised crime.
Some of the key points that Witness H’s testimony is expected to address include:
- The seizure of the drugs at Durban harbour
- The processes surrounding the storage and handling of the seized narcotics
- Insights pertaining to the ongoing investigations into the Port Shepstone theft
Public disclosure of such information at this stage would risk alerting suspects, facilitating the destruction of evidence, compromising investigative strategies, and exposing individuals who have provided critical information.
