By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SAPS Brigadier Campbell Nyuswa, Provincial Commander of Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) unit for the DPCI/Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Nyuswa took the stand at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday, 17 June 2026.
His testimony follows recent testimonies indicating he consulted with suspended KZN Hawks head Major-General, Lesetja Senona about moving the drugs seized from Durban Harbour in June 2021 to Port Shepstone, 100km away, due to storage capacity issues.
Nyuswa told the commission that Senona, instructed him to store the exhibits at the Port Shepstone DPCI offices.
The commission previously heard that the drugs should have been taken to the nearest police station in Isipingo. However, limited storage capacity forced investigators to seek alternatives, with the Port Shepstone DPCI walk-in safe ultimately being used.
Nyuswa told the commission that the landlord of the premises assured officials the building’s two safes were secure and could only be accessed with a key.
He nevertheless conceded that there were security vulnerabilities at the premises. Yet he still authorised the storage of 541kg of confiscated cocaine at the facility, believing the drugs would remain safe.
Nyuswa says after the cocaine was placed in the strong room, Jacobus Prinsloo was instructed by Senona to hand over the spare key to the Supply Chain Management (SCM) section. He added that the drugs were stored in 27 black bags instead of the official exhibit bags due to shortages at the time.
According to Nyuswa, Senona frequently made unilateral decisions and expected colleagues to implement them, regardless of the impact.
“Another example was when he moved a colonel from my section in 2022 or 2023. This colonel was appointed as my section coordinator, assisting with reports and operational coordination. SOCI is the busiest section, and he was an integral part of my team. General Senona transferred him to PCSI and then to AFI without consulting me. PCSI already had a colonel in charge, which meant the section had two colonels while I had none,” said Nyuswa.
Nyuswa dismissed what he called the misconception that he is Senona’s “right-hand man”, insisting their relationship is strictly professional, although he confirmed Senona attended his father’s funeral.
The pair were appointed to the Port Shepstone Hawks office in August 2020, when they began working together.
He also claimed that Brigadier, Khumbulani Mbatha and Gamane, did not have a good working relationship with Senona, citing a lack of mutual respect and competing interests for the provincial head position.
Nyuswa told the commission he was placed on precautionary suspension on 2 June following revelations surrounding the cocaine exhibits theft, saying he is accused of bringing the South African Police Service (SAPS) into disrepute.