By Johnathan Paoli
Suspended Gauteng Traffic Police chief provincial inspector Samuel Mashaba, who came under intense scrutiny at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry over his involvement in a controversial R300-million cocaine bust, has died.
The Gauteng Premier’s Office was informed of Mashaba’s death on Tuesday afternoon, according to preliminary information.
The circumstances and cause of his death were not immediately known at the time of publication.
Mashaba’s death comes months after he testified before the commission about a July 2021 drug operation in Aeroton, south of Johannesburg, and his relationship with businessman and alleged police informant Itumeleng “Tumelo” Nku.
He was placed on precautionary suspension following his testimony, pending a formal disciplinary process over alleged misconduct arising from the evidence he presented.
The suspension did not constitute a finding of guilt.
Mashaba testified over three days in June about the seizure of more than 715kg of cocaine, valued at approximately
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