Hawks safe heist ‘may have been staged’, Nyuswa tells Madlanga Commission

Rapula Moatshe | Published 57 minutes ago

The testimony of an analyst linked to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) took place in-camera on Thursday at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry due to the sensitivity of his evidence, which was likely to expose his life and that of his family to danger.

This followed the commission’s ruling in favour of the applicant, who cited that his testimony included evidence regarding businessman Tumelo Nku's active role in tipping off Gauteng traffic inspector Samuel Mashaba about transporting high-value cocaine worth R300 million from Durban Harbour to Aeroton in Johannesburg in July 2021.

Also involved regarding the 750kg cocaine bricks, which the police eventually seized, was Warrant Officer Marumo Magane, commander of the Crime Information Management and Analysis Centre at SAPS Zonkizizwe police station, who testified that Mashaba called him to assist in a potential drug bust.

The commission heard that instead of calling for more assistance from his police station, Magane phoned Warrant Officer Steve Phakula, an officer with the SAPS National Intervention Unit based in Pretoria, to the scene to help manage it.

This occurred after the drug consignment, concealed in a legitimate cargo of vehicle body parts destined for Scania South Africa in Aeroton, had reached Johannesburg. After the drug seizure, the commission heard that Magane loaded the high-value cocaine into his bakkie and allegedly intended to transport it to drug traffickers.

He never made off with the drugs but was arrested alongside Nku and Mashaba after Booysens officers were dispatched to the scene following a 10111 call from Scania South Africa employees in Aeroton, who reported a bogus police hijacking of a truck.

In his application, Witness J noted that the commission asked him to present evidence indicating that Nku played an active role in monitoring, facilitating, and communicating about the movement of the container of drugs from the Port of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal to Johannesburg and that communication, call, and movement data linked Nku to other persons relevant to the Booysens case.

The witness also stated that the evidence he has been asked to provide indicates the digital evidence supporting the existence of a coordinated network of individuals communicating through encrypted messaging applications, ordinary cellular platforms, and other applications regarding container movements, transport arrangements, and the suspected retrieval of illicit goods.

Witness J said the evidence includes analysis already made public through Hawks Lieutenant-Colonel Nkoana Sebola, who arrested Mashaba, Nku, and Magane for defeating the ends of justice and dealing in drugs. They were later released on bail.

The commission recently heard that part of the drugs went missing in police custody after being handed to the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory.

Following his testimony last week, Mashaba was placed on precautionary suspension with immediate effect by the Gauteng Provincial Government pending the outcome of a formal disciplinary process. Mashaba's relationship with Nku came under scrutiny during his testimony when he admitted to having accepted money from Nku.

Nku was also scheduled to testify on Thursday but his testimony was postponed to next week due to the potential length of his evidence, which is expected to last two days.

In delivering the ruling on Witness J's application, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga said the witness asserted that revealing his identity would expose him and his family to the risk of harm and stated that divulging certain parts of his testimony might compromise ongoing investigations.

"I have looked closely at the affidavit filed in support of the application. I am satisfied that there is substance in the application. I must mention that the evidence leaders support the application," Madlanga said.

The commission has undertaken to make the transcript of the witness available to the media no later than Monday, June 22, 2026, and any testimony likely to reveal Witness J’s identity or compromise the investigation will be redacted from the transcripts.

The commission will resume on Friday to hear the testimony of KZN Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona regarding the disappearance of the 541kg of cocaine bricks worth R200 million that were stolen from the Hawks’ Port Shepstone facility in June 2021.

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