Witness requests confidential testimony in Madlanga Commission cocaine case.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
An unidentified witness has brought an in-camera application at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to give evidence behind closed doors for safety reasons.
The witness has supplied a supporting affidavit to motivate for an order directing that the testimony be heard in camera.
The supporting affidavit was deposed by Thabiso Lesufi, an attorney representing the witness who wished to remain anonymous.
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.
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.
Meanwhile, 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.
“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. The investigations are interconnected, and disclosure in respect of one investigation would create a real risk of exposing details of other ongoing investigations,” read the affidavit.
“In light of the sensitive nature of the evidence, the advanced but incomplete status of the investigations, and the need to protect witnesses, informants, and the integrity of ongoing and future prosecutions, it is further requested that the identity of the witness be protected and that the statement and transcripts of the testimony not be subject to public disclosure,” the affidavit further stated.
Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, chairperson of the commission, confirmed that the application will be addressed on Friday, just ahead of the anticipated testimony.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
IOL News