Johnathan Paoli
Hawks KZN Serious Organised Crime Investigation provincial commander Brigadier Campbell Msizi Nyuswa has apologised to South Africans for his “oversight” in the handling of 541kg of seized cocaine that was stolen from Hawks offices in Port Shepstone.
Nyuswa concluded his testimony before the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday, where he faced criticism from commissioners over decisions surrounding the storage of the cocaine, valued at about R200 million, after it was seized during a Durban port-linked operation at an Isipingo container depot in June 2021.
The consignment was later stolen from a strongroom at the Hawks’ Port Shepstone offices in November that year.
“Commissioners, I can’t change what has happened. Only thing I can say, I’m sorry to you and the nation,” he said.
Commissioner Sandile Khumalo pressed Nyuswa on what he had earlier conceded were failures on his part, including not independently checking whether other police stations could accommodate the drugs and failing to act against officials who ignored evidence-handling prescripts.
The apology came after Nyuswa acknowledged that, in hindsight, he would not have recommended that the cocaine be moved to the Hawks’ Port Shepstone offices, despite believing at the time that the facility’s safes were secure.
Earlier evidence heard by the commission showed that both Nyuswa and KZN Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona were aware of security shortcomings at the premises, including alarm failures and the absence of CCTV coverage.
Nyuswa testified that he believed the strongroom could only be opened with a key and therefore regarded it as secure despite the other weaknesses at the building.
He also reiterated his suspicion that information about the drugs’ location may have been leaked from within law enforcement ranks.
“Given the location of the safe and the way things happened, yes, I do suspect someone leaked information about the drugs being there,” he said.
Nyuswa maintained that he remained sceptical about the explanation that thieves gained access by cutting through the safe with a grinder.
He said the circumstances left him suspecting that the crime scene may have been staged to conceal how the safe was actually opened.
However, he confirmed that he never communicated those suspicions to Senona — who was in possession of the strongroom keys.
Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga repeatedly questioned why Nyuswa had not voiced his doubts if he believed the safe could not be breached in the manner described.
“It’s difficult to answer, because if I suspect someone, my life would be in danger,” Nyuswa replied.
The commission also examined the treatment of Hawks and former South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) detective Warrant Officer Karl Sander, who previously testified that he was sidelined after raising concerns about exhibit losses and corruption.
Questioned by evidence leader Adv Lee Segeels-Ncube about Sander’s return to active duties, Nyuswa said Senona ultimately decided where the officer would be placed.
Nyuswa further admitted that he never asked Senona why Sander could be assigned to the Economic Protected Resources unit but not returned to SANEB, despite receiving a request from the warrant officer.
Sander previously testified that Senona removed him from SANEB in February 2024 over allegations that he supplied drugs to syndicates, but said he was never given written details of the complaint, suspended, or informed of the outcome.
Although Sander later learned the inquiry had reportedly been closed within days and received only a verbal warning on an unrelated disclosure charge, he described his subsequent posting to provincial support services as “prison” and said he was later returned to his old office but barred from narcotics work.
Commissioners Sesi Baloyi and Khumalo criticised Nyuswa’s passive approach, saying that a senior commander should have advocated more strongly for members under his command and sought reasons for decisions affecting them.
Nyuswa concluded his testimony, with the commission expected to resume on Thursday morning with evidence linked to the Aeroton, Johannesburg cocaine bust.
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