South Africa: Witness I Accused of Cover-Up in Attempted R286m Drug Theft

By Vincent Cruywagen

Commissioners and evidence leaders at the Madlanga Commission challenged Witness I's claim that he went to the scene of a R286m cocaine bust because it related to a previous investigation. They questioned whether he was there to legitimise an attempt by law enforcement officials to steal the drugs.

On 9 July 2021, the day a R286-million cocaine consignment was transported to Aeroton, Johannesburg, and intercepted by police, Witness I informed his commander that he was attending a child custody matter at the Johannesburg High Court.

However, evidence before the Madlanga Commission suggests he failed to disclose that he had also travelled to the scene of the drug bust, raising further questions about his movements and conduct on the day of the operation.

Those questions came under intense scrutiny on Wednesday, 10 June, when commissioners and evidence leaders pressed Witness I on why he failed to inform his commander that he had travelled to the Aeroton drug bust scene, now at the centre of a high-profile inquiry into one of South Africa's (SA's) largest cocaine seizures.

Witness I, a former member of the now-disbanded Scorpions and the South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau, spent much of his career investigating organised crime and drug trafficking networks. Taking the stand at the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday, he testified that he knew alleged organised crime member Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala through police work and that Matlala was a police informant.

He is testifying anonymously due to security concerns.

During cross-examination on Wednesday, commissioner Sandile...

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