Warrant Officer Karl Sander of the Hawks told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Monday that police members were complicit in drug dealing in KwaZulu-Natal.
Image: File
Warrant Officer Karl Sander underwent a polygraph test regarding the theft of 541kg of cocaine bricks worth R200 million despite never having worked at the Port Shepstone Hawks office where the drugs were stolen during a November 2021 burglary.
Sander, a senior investigator at Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) or the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal, told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Monday that although he was on leave when the Port Shepstone Hawks storage was burgled, he was still named a suspect in the cocaine theft.
"I was on leave when the said incident took place," he said.
He said several officers were sent for polygraphs over the theft, but KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona was not tested despite being present when the cocaine was booked into storage after the June 2021 bust.
Senona, who appeared briefly before the commission on Monday, is expected to testify on June 5, 2026.
The commission is expected to question him further on why he did not take the polygraph test, despite previously testifying that he had never taken one but had no objection to undergoing it.
The commission’s evidence showed that Sander’s polygraph test results indicated deception, but Sander said he was hearing about the outcome for the first time.
The Hawks seized the drugs, which originated from the Port of Santos in Brazil, from a container at Durban Harbour on 21 June 2021.
The cocaine was first booked into the Isipingo Police Station’s SAP 13 register before Warrant Officer Mpangase booked it out the same day, citing “further investigation”.
KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head for Serious Organised Crime Brigadier Campbell Nyuswa, after consulting with provincial Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona, instructed their relocation to Port Shepstone.
The commission previously heard that burglars cut their way into the Port Shepstone Hawks storage facility with a grinder and stole 541kg of cocaine.
Sander said: "I have never been there. When the incident happened I was on leave. I never worked at Port Shepstone," adding that he had no knowledge the drugs were there.
He said the polygraph examiner asked if he was involved in the exhibit theft and if he knew where the cocaine was.
He also told the commission Senona once ordered a polygraph over the theft of Sander’s coffee machine from the Hawks offices.
"My only safe space was my coffee machine and then they stole my coffee machine (from) inside the DPCI. I am laughing about it but it is still so annoying and I had to get polygraphed because of the theft of my own coffee machine," he said.
He said Senona ordered the polygraph because “other items” had gone missing at the office and he was “seen as a suspect”.
"I passed. I just wanted my coffee machine back. I didn't get it back," he said.
Sander earlier testified that he was removed from the narcotics unit to provincial support services on 13 February 2024 for disrupting the drug trade and stepping on the toes of officials linked to drug syndicates.
He testified he was transferred from the KZN Hawks narcotics unit pending a corruption investigation linked to drug dealing.
He said Senona served him a letter regarding allegations that he was dealing in drugs, but he had not officially been informed of the investigation’s outcome.
Sander said he was informed about the specific allegations against him only verbally, not in writing.
"I was told that an email had been sent to the national head office - that I was accused of supplying or facilitating supply of narcotics to Florida Road nightclub syndicates," he said.
He said he never officially received the investigation's outcome, but unofficially he was told the inquiry closed within four days and was given to Hawks members from Port Shepstone.
He said while in support services, he applied for a post and he underwent a financial vetting, which revealed that he was a director of a shooting club that also comprised some of the SAPS members.
"We preserve the bank account to stop people from changing the name or committing fraud," he said, adding that a non-profit company was registered for that purpose.
He said he charged for registering a company without disclosing his business interest and received a verbal warning.
Sander told the commission he was moved out of narcotics after “stepping on the toes” of officials he said were linked to drug dealing.
"In short - I am just going to say - maybe I became a thorn in their side because I was interfering with their supply chain. For the supply chain to work correctly you need a corrupt policeman. You need a corrupt customs official; you need a corrupt policeman - then your system flows," he said.
Sander's testimony will resume on Tuesday.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za