A traffic officer who was present at a major drug bust being investigated by the Madlanga Commission took the witness stand.
Former Gauteng Traffic Police deputy chief, Samuel Mashaba, began his testimony on Wednesday.
Over the past few weeks, the commission has heard evidence suggesting Mashaba was on the scene of a 2021 drug bust in the south of Johannesburg, where more than 700 kilograms of cocaine were seized.
Evidence before the commission suggests that Mashaba and an informant tracked the major cocaine shipment from Durban to Johannesburg after receiving a tip-off.
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In July 2021, Mashaba received a tip-off about a massive drug consignment that was later intercepted in Aeroton, south of Johannesburg.
The Madlanga Commission has previously heard conflicting testimony over whether a traffic officer had any jurisdiction to be present at the scene of a major drug bust.
Some witnesses have told the commission that after handing over the scene to the relevant authorities, Mashaba had no reason to interfere with operations.
Mashaba had requested to testify partly in camera today, citing health concerns, but the application was dismissed by the commission.
“It sounds to us that you can speak and you speak well based on what we heard during your application. For those brief reasons, we refuse your application,” said the commission’s chairperson, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
Alpha Ramushwana
www.ewn.co.za
