Warrant Officer Karl Sander campaign reaches R656,064 milestone

According to IOL, the campaign supporting Warrant Officer Karl Sander has reached a major funding milestone, with R656,064 transferred into an attorney’s trust account.

Funds processed through BackaBuddy and trust account

According to IOL, over the past month Warrant Officer Sander and the campaign organisers worked with BackaBuddy to ensure the funds were processed correctly, transparently and in line with the necessary requirements.

Why the campaign began

Sander is a senior investigator at the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), known as the Hawks, in KwaZulu-Natal. He testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry about the theft of more than 500 kilograms of cocaine bricks worth R200 million from the Port Shepstone Hawks office in November 2021.

During his testimony Sander also told the commission that his coffee machine had been stolen and that he was required to undergo a polygraph. He said,

“I passed. I just wanted my coffee machine back. I didn’t get it back,”

“My only safe space was my coffee machine and then they stole my coffee machine (from) inside the DPCI. I am laughing about it but it is still so annoying and I had to get polygraphed because of the theft of my own coffee machine,”

Public response and next steps

According to IOL, campaign organiser Kyle van Reenen said the amount raised reflected the strong response from members of the public who donated, shared the campaign and sent messages of support.

According to IOL, van Reenen added: “It became an opportunity for ordinary South Africans to stand behind a man who has dedicated decades of his life to serving our country.”

According to IOL, organisers said the next phase will focus on the allocation and use of the funds and that they will provide further updates in due course, pledging to maintain the transparency that has guided the campaign.

What organisers say will follow

According to IOL, van Reenen said: “The next phase will focus on the allocation and use of the funds. Further updates will be provided in due course, with organisers pledging to maintain the transparency that has guided the campaign,” signalling that donors can expect additional information on how the transferred funds will be used.