Madlanga Commission | DPCI warned of attempted break-in before cocaine exhibits were stolen

Suspended KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations (DPCI/Hawks) Serious Organised Crime Investigations commander, Brigadier Msizi Nyuswa, says retired Lieutenant-Colonel Jakobus Prinsloo warned him of an attempted break-in at the Port Shepstone DPCI headquarters in October 2021.

Nyuswa testified before the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday, claiming Prinsloo raised concerns about the safety of the 541 kilograms of cocaine exhibits – with an estimated street value of R200 million – which were being stored in the building’s strong room at the time.

The drugs were seized on 22 June 2021 after police discovered them inside a shipping container at the Durban Harbour.

Nyuswa, who says he was on leave when the attempted break-in allegedly occurred, says he received a call from Prinsloo alerting him to the incident, adding that one of the office windows had been damaged.

The commission also heard that when the cocaine was stolen in November 2021, entry was gained through a window in Detective Warrant Officer, Herman Pienaar’s office.

Nyuswa says he urged Durban Hawks SOCI head, Colonel Gavin Jacobs, to expedite investigations into the consignment following the attempted break-in, fearing the drugs could still be stolen.

Nyuswa also testified that when the consignment was placed in the strong room after seizure, he assumed it would only be stored there temporarily.

He further said he did not pursue the relocation of the narcotics to a more secure facility because a the July 2021 civil unrest consumed much of his attention and disrupted his official duties.

– Exhibits storage –

Nyuswa says suspended KZN Hawks head Major-General, Lesetja Senona, instructed him to store the exhibits at the Port Shepstone DPCI offices after he made the recommendation.

The commission previously heard that the drugs should have been taken to the nearest police station in Isipingo. However, limited storage capacity allegedly forced investigators to seek alternatives, with the Port Shepstone DPCI walk-in safe ultimately being used.

Nyuswa told the commission that the landlord of the premises assured officials the building’s two safes were secure and could only be accessed with a key.

He nevertheless conceded that there were security vulnerabilities at the premises.

Nyuswa says after the cocaine was placed in the strong room, Prinsloo was instructed by Senona to hand over the spare key to the Supply Chain Management (SCM) section. He added that the drugs were stored in 27 black bags instead of the official exhibit bags due to shortages at the time.

– Senona’s perceived leadership –

According to Nyuswa, Senona frequently made unilateral decisions and expected colleagues to implement them, regardless of the impact.

“Another example was when he moved a colonel from my section in 2022 or 2023. This colonel was appointed as my section coordinator, assisting with reports and operational coordination. SOCI is the busiest section, and he was an integral part of my team. General Senona transferred him to PCSI and then to AFI without consulting me. PCSI already had a colonel in charge, which meant the section had two colonels while I had none,” said  Nyuswa.

Nyuswa dismissed what he called the misconception that he is Senona’s “right-hand man”, insisting their relationship is strictly professional, although he confirmed Senona attended his father’s funeral.

The pair were appointed to the Port Shepstone Hawks office in August 2020, when they began working together.

He also claimed that Brigadier, Khumbulani Mbatha and Gamane, did not have a good working relationship with Senona, citing a lack of mutual respect and competing interests for the provincial head position.

Nyuswa told the commission he was placed on precautionary suspension on 2 June following revelations surrounding the cocaine exhibits theft, saying he is accused of bringing the South African Police Service (SAPS) into disrepute.

He says he was informed that he failed to comply with legal obligations by allowing the cocaine exhibits to be stored in the DPCI walk-in safe.

In an effort to clear his name, Nyuswa told the commission that he had no involvement in the theft.

The suspended brigadier began his SAPS career more than four decades ago as a constable in the Special Guard Unit (SGU) after a year of training at Hammanskraal Training College.

He was transferred to the Port Shepstone Murder and Robbery Unit (MRU) in 1998, where he served as a captain.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao