By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Assistant Director of Investigations, Takalani Zelda Maphosho testified for a second consecutive day.
Maphosho was testifying regarding the controversial July 2021 Aeroton drug bust in Johannesburg.
The drug bust involved a Yellow Jersey Logistics truck that arrived to deliver legitimate cargo from Durban Harbour to Scania South Africa, with bags of cocaine smuggled inside.
Maphosho maintained that, based on information obtained from complainants who approached Ipid, “Crime Intelligence boss General Feroz Khan interfered in the whole [Aeroton] crime scene”.
However, it was put to Maphosho that she was basing this on what the complainants told her and was not taking into account Khan’s and others’ versions of events.
Four individuals were arrested in connection with the Aeroton cocaine case: local businessman Tumelo Nku; Warrant Officer Marumo Magane of the Zonkizizwe Police Station in Gauteng; Warrant Officer Steve Phakula, a National Investigation Unit member; and Samuel Mashaba, who was involved in traffic services in Gauteng.
The court case against the four was subsequently withdrawn, but investigations into this matter have since been revived.
Maphosho testified that a warning statement in this regard was requested from Khan in 2023 and he had indicated that he wanted more information from Ipid.
A message from Khan to Ipid was screened during Tuesday’s proceedings.
It said he trusted that the Director of Public Prosecutions official, who was assisting Ipid with its investigation, had been in contact with the state advocate dealing with the matter.
She said those who lodged complaints against Khan and other police officers for their actions at the Aeroton cocaine scene were not interrogated.
“We don’t normally investigate our complainants,” she added.
Commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga put it to Maphosho that her broader testimony gave him “the distinct impression you basically just accepted anything and everything” the complainants had put to Ipid.
He said it seemed as if their versions were accepted without any questioning.
Maphosho responded that several statements had been taken.
But Madlanga said: “It doesn’t matter if you pile up statement after statement if you’re not critical.Maphosho agreed.
Meanwhile, Witness I, who also testified at the commission on Tuesday, said an enquiry was opened in August 2020 into a Zambezi, Pretoria North, with an individual linked to drug trafficking.
He recounted events he believes led to the July 2021 drug bust, telling the commission that Sergeant Masuma informed him of a tip-off about suspected cocaine consignments.
Witness I said that while on duty in Pretoria, Phakula called him requesting assistance with the operation.
He added that upon arriving at the scene with Masuma, he observed Crime Intelligence Major-General Khan instructing that the officials involved in seizing the drugs be detained. Witness I is expected to continue with his testimony when proceedings resume on Wednesday, 10 June 2026.