The Madlanga commission of inquiry, which has currently turned its focus on the controversial Aeroton drug bust, heard explosive testimony from Hawks Lieutenant-Colonel Nkoana Sebola of the Hawks.
Sebola detailed alleged attempts to influence arrests, conflicting accounts from police officers, and the seizure of hundreds of kilograms of drugs at the scene.
Sebola testified that shortly after arriving at the Aeroton crime scene, he found Gauteng traffic chief Chief Samuel Mashaba and other officers.
He further alleged that Mashaba and Magane identified themselves at the scene as members of the crime intelligence Hawks.
According to Sebola, no such unit exists within the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation. “There is no such unit as ‘crime intelligence Hawks’ within the DPCI,” he said.
Sebola explained that his specialised unit had been summoned to the scene specifically because of the scale and nature of the drug operation.
“When drugs are involved, the necessary specialists must be called in. We were the necessary people to handle the situation,” Sebola testified.
Additionally, he told the commission that he arrested the three officials and one informant at the scene on charges of defeating the ends of justice.
Sebola explained that further charges would be added once forensic confirmation established that all 23 seized bags contained narcotics.
“I informed them that additional charges would follow once it was confirmed the bags contained drugs,” he testified.
Details about drugs seized in operation
According to Sebola, Mashaba contacted now-General Richard Shibiri from the organised crime unit in an effort to seek an amicable solution.
I did not call him; Mashaba called him, and he passed the phone to me. Shibiri asked if there was nothing we could do to reach a solution, and I said no.
“I also told him that I was not there alone; I was with my general,” said Sebola after having informed the three officials and one informant that they were under arrest.
He said he informed senior official Ebrahim Kadwa about the call.
“General Kadwa responded by saying he had also received what he described as a strange call from Shibiri.”
However, Sebola told the commission that Kadwa said Shibiri’s instruction to him was different.
“Kadwa told me Shibiri said we must proceed with the arrests,” Sebola testified.
The commission also heard details about the drugs seized during the operation. Sebola said markings found on the bricks of cocaine recovered at the scene were commonly seen in international drug trafficking investigations.
“The markings are very common,” Sebola said.
He added that he had encountered similar markings during previous operations, including investigations conducted at airports.
Cocaine branded with seagull and bull logo
Sebola further testified that cocaine branded with the “seagull and bull” logo was believed to originate from the same source in Brazil.
“Most drugs with the ‘seagull and bull’ logo are believed to come from the same source in São Paulo,” he said.
His testimony exposed contradictions between Sebola’s testimony and evidence presented by Sergeant Ndou of the Booysens police station.
A statement made by Ndou reportedly does not support Sebola’s claim that Ndou warned him that Warrant Officer Marumo Magane was attempting to flee the scene in a black bakkie loaded with drugs.
In addition, the statement said the 10111 emergency call made by Ndou appeared to indicate that the truck linked to the incident had not been hijacked.
“That is strange, because Magane had been found seated in the driver’s seat of a black van containing 715kg of drugs worth R300-million,” said Sebola, responding to the discrepancy.
He told the commission that officers from the Booysens SAPS had to physically block the vehicle to stop Magane from leaving the scene.
“Booysens officers blocked the vehicle to prevent him from driving away,” Sebola testified.
- Hawks Lieutenant-Colonel Nkoana Sebola testified about manipulation attempts and conflicting police accounts during the Aeroton drug bust, where hundreds of kilograms of drugs were seized.
- Sebola revealed that Gauteng traffic chief Samuel Mashaba and others falsely identified themselves as members of a non-existent “crime intelligence Hawks” unit.
- Sebola arrested three officials and one informant at the scene on charges of defeating the ends of justice, with further narcotics-related charges pending forensic confirmation.
- Efforts by Mashaba to negotiate with General Richard Shibiri for an "amicable solution" were rejected, and senior official Ebrahim Kadwa confirmed arrests should proceed.
- The seized cocaine bore distinctive “seagull and bull” logos linked to a Brazilian source; Sebola highlighted discrepancies in statements by Sergeant Ndou regarding attempts to flee and vehicle hijacking claims.
Sebola detailed alleged attempts to influence arrests, conflicting accounts from police officers, and the seizure of hundreds of kilograms of drugs at the scene.
Sebola testified that shortly after arriving at the Aeroton crime scene, he found
He further alleged that
Sebola explained that his specialised unit had been summoned to the scene specifically because of the scale and nature of the drug operation.
"When drugs are involved, the necessary specialists must be called in. We were the necessary people to handle the situation," Sebola testified.
Additionally, he told the commission that he arrested the three officials and one informant at the scene on charges of defeating the ends of justice.
Sebola explained that further charges would be added once forensic confirmation established that all 23 seized bags contained narcotics.
"I informed them that additional charges would follow once it was confirmed the bags contained drugs," he testified.
I did not call him;
"I also told him that I was not there alone; I was with my general," said Sebola after having informed the three officials and one informant that they were under arrest.
He said he informed senior official Ebrahim Kadwa about the call.
"General Kadwa responded by saying he had also received what he described as a strange call from
However, Sebola told the commission that Kadwa said
"Kadwa told me
"
He added that he had encountered similar markings during previous operations, including investigations conducted at airports.
Sebola further testified that cocaine branded with the “seagull and bull” logo was believed to originate from the same source in Brazil.
"Most drugs with the ‘seagull and bull’ logo are believed to come from the same source in São Paulo," he said.
His testimony exposed contradictions between Sebola’s testimony and evidence presented by Sergeant
A statement made by
In addition, the statement said the 10111 emergency call made by
"
He told the commission that officers from the Booysens SAPS had to physically block the vehicle to stop Magane from leaving the scene.
"Booysens officers blocked the vehicle to prevent him from driving away," Sebola testified.
