Key Takeaways
- Warrant Officer Karl Sander testified that the thieves who stole a R200‑million cocaine consignment from Hawks offices in 2021 were linked to the unit’s management.
- Initial polygraph results suggesting deception were later deemed invalid after an examiner’s serious errors were revealed, leading to Sander’s emotional exoneration.
- Sander stated that the suspects are known and that a colonel had identified them to him, implying an inside‑job facilitated by Hawks management.
- Lieutenant Colonel Justice Jabulani Duma emphasized that trust is essential in undercover work and expressed that the theft shattered his confidence in the Hawks.
- Forensic‑science witnesses highlighted procedural irregularities, including the mishandling of the crime scene and questionable requests for exhibit collection, raising concerns about possible collusion.
- The Madlanga Commission continues to hear evidence, with further testimony expected to clarify the extent of internal compromise and security failures.
Background and Testimony of Warrant Officer Karl Sander
Warrant Officer Karl Sander, attached to the Hawks in KwaZulu‑Natal, appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on 2 June 2026 for the second consecutive day. He testified that the R200‑million cocaine consignment intercepted at an Isipingo depot months before the theft was later stolen from the Hawks building in Port Shepstone. Sander asserted that the individuals responsible for the burglary were not unknown outsiders but had “links” to the Hawks’ management, a claim he said was “known.” His testimony built on earlier statements from other officers who had described the building’s lax security and multiple break‑in attempts over a decade.
Polygraph Controversy and Emotional Exoneration
Earlier on Monday, Sander disclosed that he had been told he failed a polygraph test that indicated deception regarding the stolen cocaine. He had never received formal notification of the result and only saw the document during Monday’s proceedings. A second report noted “no opinion” beside his name, casting doubt on the initial finding. On Tuesday, the commission received an email from a police officer explaining that the polygraph examiner had made serious errors, rendering the test against Sander invalid. When Sander heard this, tears welled in his eyes, and Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga declared that the warrant officer was effectively exonerated. The moment prompted an emotional outburst, with Sander breaking down before the tea break.
Sander’s Background, Suspicions of Reassignment, and Alleged Obstruction
In his testimony, Sander recounted his work on narco‑trafficking investigations within the Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau unit. He claimed that his transfer away from that unit was intended to remove him from drug‑trafficking cases because his investigations were interfering with potentially corrupt activities involving police officers and port workers. Sander remarked, “If I was not doing a good job, I wouldn’t have been here. If I was not interfering in someone’s activities, they would’ve left me.” This statement suggested that his removal was retaliatory rather than performance‑based, reinforcing his belief that senior Hawks officials sought to shield illicit operations from scrutiny.
Known Suspects and Management Links
When pressed about the identity of the thieves, Sander told the commission, “I think it will eventually come out, but the suspects who stole the cocaine are known.” He referenced a Colonel Jacobs—likely Lieutenant Colonel Gavin Jacobs—who had informed him of the suspects’ identities. Although Sander did not name the individuals, he affirmed that “the links” between the suspects and “the management” were known, pointing to complicity within the Hawks’ leadership. This assertion aligned with earlier testimony indicating that the building had suffered repeated burglaries, yet security remained inadequate, raising questions about whether internal actors facilitated the theft.
Trust, Undercover Work, and Lieutenant Colonel Duma’s Testimony
Following Sander, Lieutenant Colonel Justice Jabulani Duma, an undercover officer attached to an organised‑crime component in Durban, testified via audio to protect his identity. Duma stressed that his work hinges on trust, stating, “It’s all about trust.” He said he had no concrete evidence to distrust specific Hawks officers, but his personal belief in his colleagues had been shaken after learning of the cocaine theft from media reports. Duma noted that the breach eroded his confidence in the institution, underscoring how internal compromises can jeopardise the safety and effectiveness of undercover operatives.
Crime‑Scene Handling, Depot Constraints, and Forensic‑Lab Concerns
Major General Hendrik Flynn, head of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation component, had previously testified that the Isipingo crime scene was poorly managed; officers moved the cocaine despite protocol requiring the area to be sealed. Duma echoed this, explaining that the depot lacked sufficient space to work comfortably given the volume of cocaine and the shipping container, which forced officers to relocate the evidence. Forensic‑science witnesses added further layers of concern. Warrant Officer Bheki Setshedi denied ever discussing exhibit collection with Gavin Jacobs, while Lieutenant Colonel Patience Songca described being pressured by Jacobs to verify Setshedi’s statement, a request she found troubling. Colonel Nonkululeko Khuzwayo confirmed that a request for her unit to attend the Isipingo scene fell outside their mandate, yet the request was still made, suggesting procedural overreach.
Continuing Inquiry and Implications
The Madlanga Commission’s proceedings remain ongoing, with additional witnesses expected to clarify the extent of internal collusion, security failures, and possible obstruction of justice. The emotional testimony of Sander, the vindication following the flawed polygraph, and the corroborating accounts from Duma and forensic specialists collectively paint a picture of a unit where trust was compromised, protocols were ignored, and senior management may have been aware of—or even complicit in—the theft of a massive cocaine consignment. As the inquiry continues, its findings could lead to significant reforms within the Hawks and broader South African law‑enforcement structures.