Witness

Colonel Gavin Jacob

Commander, Durban Serious Organised Crime Unit - KZN Hawks · KwaZulu-Natal

Testified · credibility challenged

A chemistry graduate and commander of the Durban serious organised crime unit who led the 2021 seizure that became the R200m theft. He denied any role and said a polygraph vindicated him, but the commission challenged a string of decisions - booking himself onto the operation while on leave, running the scene himself for the first time at that scale, and moving the exhibits off-site - as irregular and inconsistent with his own statement.

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KZN HawksTestifiedScene handlingCross-examination

This profile summarises testimony and evidence given on the public record before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. It restates allegations as presented at the hearings and is not a finding of guilt, liability, or wrongdoing by any person.

Colonel Gavin Jacob · Testified · credibility challenged

Their role

What the record says

On leave, but booked himself on

Officially on leave in June 2021, Jacob booked himself onto the operation through an informal verbal request relayed to a brigadier - with no HR record, only a diary entry.

First time running a scene of that scale

A R200m cocaine seizure was the first scene he personally took charge of. The commission questioned why it wasn't handled by a more experienced officer.

Moved the exhibits off-site

Rather than cordon off the CHC container depot or call an operational-response team, he moved the cocaine about 4km to Isipingo police station, citing limited space and the depot's proximity to Umlazi.

Shifting explanations

The several reasons he gave under questioning for moving the exhibits were absent from his written statement, where he gave only one. Commissioners pressed that this read as rationalising after the event.

Unfamiliar with the harbour SOP

He appeared unaware of the SAPS standard operating procedure for Durban Harbour - leaving the commission to weigh whether he had misled it or lacked the knowledge.

Says the theft suspects are known

Warrant Officer Sander testified that Jacob personally told him the suspects who stole the Port Shepstone cocaine are known, with links to DPCI management.

On the stand