Mangena: Forensic evidence exposed Cato Manor unit’s ‘cold-blooded’ taxi killings

By Simon Nare

Police forensic expert Lieutenant-General Chris Mangena has detailed to the Nkabinde Inquiry how the Cato Manor Organised Crime Unit allegedly hunted down taxi operators, killed them in cold blood and then claimed self-defence.

Mangena told the inquiry probing the fitness of South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andrew Chauke to hold office that, in most crime scenes he analysed, the version of events given by unit members did not tally with the forensic evidence.

Testifying before the inquiry chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Elizabeth Nkabinde, Mangena said the reconstructed crime scenes showed that the deceased posed no danger when they were shot, and that firearms were planted to create the impression that officers had acted under threat.

He cited instances where gunshot wounds were inconsistent with the members’ claims of a shootout.

Mangena referred to one victim who was allegedly fetched from an ANC rally