Madlanga Commission | Gauteng Traffic Chief Admits to Side Hustles With Alleged Police Informant Nku

Chief Provincial Inspector of Gauteng Traffic Police, Samuel Mashaba, has told the Madlanga Commission that he had side hustles with alleged police informant and businessman, Tumelo Nku, in 2019.

Nku is the same individual who allegedly alerted Mashaba to the July 2021 drug-trafficking operation that culminated in the controversial bust at Scania’s Aeroton warehouse, where 715 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of R300 million was discovered.

Mashaba, Nku, Zonkizizwe CIMAC commander, Marumo Magane, and SAPS K-9 unit officer Steve Phakula were all arrested at the scene on allegations of drug dealing and defeating the ends of justice.

During cross-examination on Thursday, the commission presented WhatsApp messages between Mashaba and Nku that appeared to show frequent communication and suggested the pair were working together on various matters.

Mashaba said he cannot recall the exact nature of their dealings, but acknowledged that Nku often assisted him financially.

The commission also presented a message in which Mashaba allegedly told Nku that they needed to “get back to work” because his “responsibilities are piling up”, something he claimed he could not remember.

Mashaba repeatedly told the commission that 2019 was a long time ago and that he struggled to recall many of the events from the period.

Records before the commission also indicate that Mashaba allegedly asked Nku for R20,000 in March that year, around the time they first met.

The commission further examined messages in which Nku referred to his “bosses” while discussing a drug-trafficking and money-laundering enquiry with Mashaba.

Mashaba insisted he did not know who these “bosses” were and said he could not remember details of the enquiry.

When questioned by evidence leader, Advocate Lee Segeels-Ncube, about how he became aware that an enquiry had been opened, Mashaba suggested that he may have referred the matter to another South African Police Service (SAPS) member for assistance.

He maintained that the matter went no further and denied ever receiving kickbacks or any improper financial benefit from Nku.

Mashaba also admitted that he failed to report the July 2021 drug-bust operation through official SAPS channels before participating in it, despite conceding that SAPS Standard Operating Procedures required him to do so.

However, he argued that he had effectively reported the operation by involving other SAPS members and seeking their assistance.

He further revealed that Nku had specifically instructed him not to disclose details of the operation to anyone else.

Commission chairperson, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, strongly criticised Mashaba’s conduct, saying he had acted in breach of SAPS prescripts.

“I will end this debate, Chief Mashaba, by saying I suggest to you that one; you breached existing prescripts which we get from you and in respect of which you actually accept the breach. Two; I will go further. Everything I have said this far you have agreed to and this is the part you don’t agree to. I will further suggest to you that your conduct was unlawful.”

Mashaba rejected the conclusion, insisting he withheld information only to protect the integrity and success of the operation.

The traffic chief also used the opportunity to clarify aspects of the Aeroton operation that he said were omitted from his earlier testimony.

He told the commission that officers from Booysens SAPS attended the scene and cleared the operation of any wrongdoing.

Mashaba further testified that after suspended deputy Crime Intelligence head, Major-General Feroz Khan, arrived at the scene and confronted the team, he sought assistance from Generals Elias Mawela and Tommy Mthombeni, as well as Brigadier Richard Shibiri, but was told they were occupied with other matters.

He maintains that Khan ordered that he, Magane, Phakula and Nku be removed from the operation and arrested.

Mashaba also reiterated that once Phakula arrived at the warehouse, the team was able to properly cordon off the scene, an issue that remains a key point of contention before the commission.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao