By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
The Madlanga Commission continues today with testimony by one Witness M who had decided to make their testimony in private and has been granted permission to testify on camera as there are concerns that he could be put in danger.
This anonymous witness is a businessman who is set to testify about the Aeroton drug bust that took place in June 2021 as the authorities had seized roughly R750 million from a truck. Back in July 2021 a large amount of cocaine had arrived in Durban on port from Brazil and the drugs were stored in a container carrying car parts, which was making its way to Aeroton, Johannesburg.
The anonymous witness had followed the drugs that were making its way from Durban to Johannesburg. Witness M had made an anonymous tip to a traffic officer about the truck that had contained the narcotics in the container.
The traffic officer proceeded to inform two members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) who are stationed to handle cases surrounding narcotics. The Madlanga Commission has been in the midst of probing whether the businessman, the traffic officer and two SAPS members had no prior experience with executing drug busts and wonder if the intention was to take the drugs for themselves.
The Commission also examined conflicting police records which were linked to the disappearance of cocaine from a Hawks evidence store, as well as questioned the legal basis of high profile corruption investigations and set strict disclosure deadlines.
The Investigative Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) boss Andrea Johnson is expected to appear in front of the Madlanga Commission, as an illness hindered her ability to appear in front of the Commission last week.
She steps into the commission under enormous pressure as a threat of inquiry into her capabilities as head of IDAC and possible suspension looms over her. Her testimony follows evidence that was presented from senior IDAC officials in which they express that the internal workings of the organisation being riddled with corruption is the reason for the organisation reaching its decay.