Overview
- Brigadier Campbell Nyuswa told the Madlanga Commission he ordered the 541kg consignment to be stored at Hawks premises in Port Shepstone and confirmed it was not entered in the Port Shepstone police register.
- Nyuswa conceded that proper procedures and the chain of custody were not followed when the suspected cocaine was moved and stored, which undermines the integrity of the evidence.
- He denied any personal role in the 2021 theft and defended his decision by saying an officer named Mpangase maintained control of the exhibits while they were at the Hawks site.
- Nyuswa suggested the crime scene may have been staged and questioned how the strongroom was breached, saying earlier claims that the safe could not be opened without a key now appear doubtful.
- The commission’s public hearings deepen scrutiny of Hawks and SAPS management over the loss of the R200 million consignment and could lead to disciplinary, criminal, or reputational consequences as testimony continues.