Madlanga Commission | KZN Hawks officer says colleague refused to store seized cocaine at police station

Kwa Zulu-Natal Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigations (SOCI) Unit, Lieutenant-Colonel Kwazikwakhe Sibiya, has told the Madlanga Commission that Warrant Officer, Dan Perumel, refused to store 541 kilograms of cocaine seized at Durban Harbour’s CHC Depot in June 2021, allegedly citing a lack of space at Isipingo Police Station.

The cocaine, with an estimated street value of R200 million, was seized during a high-profile operation that remains under scrutiny following the subsequent theft of the exhibits.

Sibiya testified on Friday that he arrived at Isipingo Police Station with his commander Lieutenent-Colonel, Gavin Jacobs and Warrant Officer, Livingston Mpangase after the seizure.

His version contradicts earlier testimony by Perumal, who told the commission he was never approached about storing the drugs.

Sibiya claims that Perumal rejected the request after seeing the size of the consignment.

“Even in my previous statement, chair. I’ve indicated the same and I’m still standing by it. I heard warrant officer Perumal saying he’s got no space,” said Sibiya.

Sibiya also sought to distance himself from key decisions taken during the operation, describing his role as limited and saying he merely following instructions from senior officers.

The officer also defended Jacobs’ decision to move the cocaine exhibits to the Port Shepstone Hawks offices, saying he did not view the decision as problematic at the time.

“Now with the experience that I have now I can say yes, they were flouted but then, when this thing was happening on the 22nd, I did not see anything wrong with the decision that was made by Colonel Jacobs,” he testified.

Sibiya further confirmed that the decision not to cordon-off the drug-bust scene was made by Jacobs.

Jacobs previously testified that the team moved the consignment immediately after it was removed from the shipping container because of safety concerns.

Sibiya said questioning a commander’s operational decisions was not common practice within SAPS.

Sibiya, who says he had never handled drugs before, was grilled by the commission over his decision to participate in the controversial operation.

Evidence leader, Advocate Sandile Khumalo, pressed Sibiya on why he did not question being called to the drug-bust scene, where he claims he was tasked with taking photographs.

Under SAPS Standard Operational Procedures, the Local Criminal Record Center (LCRC) is responsible for photographing and documenting crime scenes for evidentiary purposes.

Although he testified that he was responsible for taking photographs at the scene, no photographic evidence allegedly taken by him has yet been produced before the commission.

Evidence leader Advocate Mpilo Sikhakhane challenged that position.

“So no matter how unlawful that decision is, or how difficult it is for you, you can’t say I don’t want to participate in this?”

Sibiya responded that officers are not expected to follow unlawful instructions, but said operational decisions made by commanders were generally not questioned.

Commissioner, Sandile Khumalo, questioned why Sibiya had agreed to participate in a major drug seizure despite no prior experience handling narcotics.

Proceedings will resume on Monday.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao