By Simon Nare
Chief Provincial Inspector of the Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP) Samuel Mashaba has admitted before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that he arranged for police officers to assist a businessman in tracing stolen gold and cash, despite the matter falling outside his jurisdiction.
Mashaba came under intense questioning on Thursday during his testimony before the commission, which is probing allegations linked to a R300 million drug bust in Aeroton, south of Johannesburg.
The questioning focused on Mashaba’s involvement in efforts to track down suspects linked to the theft of gold and cash worth about R4 million belonging to businessman Tumelo Nku.
Nku, whose testimony was scheduled for Thursday, is expected to appear before the commission on June 18 after proceedings were postponed due to a family bereavement. Evidence before the commission alleges that Nku operated a smuggling network at OR Tambo International Airport, using a counter at the airport as a collection and drop-off point.
Mashaba confirmed that after the theft, Nku approached him for assistance in tracing those responsible. Text messages presented to the commission showed ongoing communication between the two men, including discussions about deploying officers to Limpopo to pursue the suspects.
Mashaba testified that the operation never materialised. However, Commissioner Advocate Sesi Baloyi questioned why state-paid police officers would be expected to perform work for a private citizen in exchange for payment.
“You organise them to work for a private citizen at a fee? That is breaking the law at every level imaginable,” Baloyi said.
“All four of you should be prosecuted. You used police officers to engage in private business paid for by a member of the public.”
Baloyi further suggested that Mashaba and the officers had used their positions and authority to advance Nku’s interests.
Asked to respond, Mashaba replied: “No comment, Commissioners.”
Throughout a day-long cross-examination centred on text message exchanges between himself and Nku, Mashaba frequently said he could not remember the context of conversations put to him.
In one exchange, Mashaba appeared to assure Nku that he would restore his “dignity” before his superiors. Mashaba suggested the messages may have been taken out of context and insisted he could not recall the details.
He also faced questions over messages in which he appeared to inform Nku about a planned inquiry into the Aeroton drug bust.
In another exchange, Mashaba told Nku that he could not approach “our bosses empty-handed” and would have to “open their mouth with something”. Pressed on the meaning of the statement and why he was discussing internal matters with a civilian, Mashaba again said he could not remember.
As the questioning continued, Baloyi accused him of being evasive.
“I anticipate we are going to do the same exercise the whole afternoon,” she said.
“There is a big difference between not wanting to tell us what this was about and genuinely not recalling. I want to suggest that you do not want to even try to remember. You simply do not want to tell us.”
Mashaba maintained his position.
“Genuinely, I don’t recall,” he said.
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