Lt-Col Duma says Hawks trust shattered after Port Shepstone cocaine theft

Undercover SAPS crime intelligence officer Lt-Col. Justice Duma told the Madlanga Commission he has lost confidence in the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) after a large consignment of cocaine stolen from a Hawks storage facility in Port Shepstone in November 2021, according to Independent Online (IOL).

From professional pride to profound disappointment

According to Independent Online (IOL), Duma said the operation had been one of the highlights of his career and that he had “done my job” and was “excited” about the successful seizure. He told the commission he was nonetheless “disappointed by how the matter was handled,” describing the disappearance of the exhibits as a source of frustration and embarrassment.

Processing decisions and procedural gaps

IOL reports that Duma conceded national instructions on handling exhibits had not been strictly followed. Commissioner Sisi Baloyi questioned why the exhibits were not processed at the original crime scene; Duma said the container’s location and size and the large number of bags recovered made on-site processing impractical, and that a larger area was required. When asked whether alternative arrangements had been explored, he replied, “Not that I know of,” according to IOL.

Safety concerns and identity disclosure

Independent Online (IOL) states Duma raised concerns that his identity had been revealed during proceedings and argued his name should have been protected given the dangerous nature of drug cartel investigations. He referred to another witness who had withheld an informant’s identity and said similar precautions should have been applied in his case.

Trust and accountability

As reported by Independent Online (IOL), Duma firmly denied any involvement in the theft and told the commission,

“I no longer trust the DPCI as a reliable entity.”

IOL says he described the theft as a setback that “takes us back to square one” and called the incident disgraceful for the SAPS.

Intelligence sharing and container information

Independent Online (IOL) also reports Duma’s testimony on intelligence procedures. He said investigators often rely on container numbers to initiate action and that information about containers detained by customs authorities is not always communicated to SAPS or the DPCI.