Madlanga Commission | Failure to cordon off Aeroton scene led to contamination – Steyn

Unit Commander of the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations (DPCI)/Hawks in Gauteng, Francois Steyn, says the presence of numerous police officials and civilians at a 9 July 2021 drug-bust in Aeroton resulted in significant contamination of the crime scene.

Steyn testified before the Madlanga Commission on Monday, saying he arrived at the scene hours after the operation on the instruction from Gauteng Hawks head Major- General, Ebrahim Kadwa.

He told the commission that four suspects were being questioned at the time, including Crime Intelligence Acting Deputy Director, Samuel Mashaba, Warrant Officer Steve Phakula, and an informer identified as Mr. Nku.

The operation took place at the Scania Trucks premises in Aeroton, south of Johannesburg, where a large consignment of drugs was discovered inside a shipping container.

Steyn said after attending a meeting in Midrand, he arrived at the scene several hours later  to find standby officers, his direct commander, Brigadier Paulina Sekgobela, and Kadwa among those present.

He testified that the crime scene had not been cordoned off.

Steyn told the commission that when he approached Captain, Ngwako Sebola, who was leading the investigation, Sebola raised concerns about excessive movement at the scene and requested assistance in securing the area.

Hassim criticised what she described as poor scene control by law enforcement, questioning why the area was only properly cordoned off nearly five hours after the operation began.

Steyn also said he had to assign officers to take statements from the four suspects.

Three days after the seizure, on 12 July 2021, the drugs were transferred to a safe storage facility at the SAPS Pretoria Training College.

Steyn conceded that the move was a breach of protocol, but said urgent arrangements were necessary for safe keeping as the Booysens Police Station was not suitable for storage at the time.

He said he had received several calls from Booysens Police Station warning that the exhibits were not safe there following the seizure.

He then arranged for the exhibits to be moved to the SAPS Pretoria Training College, where responsibility was handed over to Captain, Daniel Nortje, who also held the storage keys.

Steyn further explained that the drugs were required to be transferred to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) within seven days, but he was informed there was no immediate storage capacity available.

He said it was only a week later, on 19 July 2021, that the forensic laboratory confirmed it was ready to receive the exhibits.

The commission also heard that some of the drug-bricks arrived at the laboratory with tears. Steyn said this may have been caused by multiple transfers, adding that the laboratory subsequently re-sealed the exhibits.

Steyn also pointed to delays at the FSL as major challenge in narcotics investigations, saying it can take months to determine the type of drug seized.

He further said the Gauteng Hawks face ongoing difficulties in transporting and safeguarding narcotic exhibits.

“Commissioner I think the issue is; if I can start with the transportation first. I think you have indicated it correctly, especially when you have a large consignment of exhibits that was taken, I think the good advocate mentioned the issue of the street value of these exhibits, then you have to make extra security and safety plans that you have to have in place to secure these exhibits for when they are transported from point A to point B,” said Steyn.

He also highlighted a shortage of experienced prosecutors specialising in narcotics cases, and raised concerns about South Africa’s porous borders, saying the country’s 72 border posts present a major enforcement challenge in the fight against drug trafficking.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao