Hawks’ Lt-Col Kwazikwakhe Sibiya testifies at Madlanga Commission on missing R200m drugs

Lieutenant Colonel Kwazikwakhe Sibiya has taken the stand at the Madlanga Commission as the inquiry continues to probe the disappearance of seized narcotics valued at R200 million and alleged failures in evidence handling within the Hawks.

New witness amid wider scrutiny of Hawks’ handling of drug exhibits

The commission has spent the week examining how drug seizures were handled and how exhibits were stored, with testimony exposing concerns about missing narcotics, breaches of procedure and accountability within the elite crime-fighting unit.

Postponement and proceedings

Sibiya was expected to follow the planned appearance of KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Lesetja Senona, whose testimony was postponed when his legal counsel fell ill. The proceedings are taking place in Pretoria.

Admissions from a senior Hawks officer

The inquiry took a dramatic turn when Colonel Gavin Jacob, head of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit in Durban, admitted that key claims in his affidavit were false. Jacob was questioned over the 2021 seizure of 541 kilograms of cocainesaid to be worth an estimated R200 millionthat were later stolen from Hawks offices in Port Shepstone.

Under questioning from Commission Chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and evidence leader Advocate Mahlape Sello SC, Jacob conceded that parts of his affidavit were inaccurate and that established procedures had not been followed. A central issue was Jacob’s earlier claim that all storage options near Durban had been exhausted before moving the cocaine more than 100 kilometres to Port Shepstone; he admitted he had not contacted several nearby police stations, including Maydon Wharf, to check for secure storage.

What the commission is examining

• The handling and storage of seized drugs by Hawks units.
• Allegations of missing narcotics and possible internal collusion or procedural failures.
• Accountability and leadership within the Hawks during the period under review.

The Madlanga Commission’s hearings continue as investigators and legal teams probe the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the seized drugs and the accuracy of testimony provided to the inquiry.