Madlanga Commission | "I stepped on toes," Warrant Officer Karl Sander tells probe

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]and then say so help me God.

[00:00:02]>> Warrant's officer Charl Somda of the Hawks has detailed how his successes in the narcotic space and subsequent recoveries of illicit drugs seemingly led to him stepping on toes. The statement raised eyebrows on whether the toes were those of his colleagues.

[00:00:18]>> Did you have reason in these operations that you were doing taken together, did you get to a point where you had reason to suspect that some of your colleagues, whoever they are, may be involved or have an interest in in these operations? I'm not asking you to mention names, uh, but to understand what to understand what your answer means.

[00:00:53]>> Thank you, Commissioner.

[00:00:56]Prior to me being moved um, this investigation of the corruption, myself and my immediate commander were not seeing eye to eye due to let's just say there was allegations of theft of exhibits, exhibits going missing, dockets going missing.

[00:01:19]>> His further evidence suggests that he became a scapegoat of sorts as he reflected on charges leveled against him of corruption by KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Major General Lesetja Senona, which Somda implies were alleged trumped-up charges to move him away from his successful narcotics investigations.

[00:01:37]>> I was accused of supplying or facilitating the supply of narcotics to the Florida Road nightclub syndicates.

[00:01:45]>> Did you ever get an outcome of what the investig- of the investigation?

[00:01:50]>> No, Commissioner.

[00:01:52]>> In addition, the commission heard that Somda was one of the officers who was subjected to a polygraph test after cocaine went missing from the Port Shepstone facility.

[00:02:01]But Sanda charges that he was never there.

[00:02:04]>> I was a suspect. I was called in. I was polygraph. I was never there. That's all I know about the Port Shepstone matter.

[00:02:11]>> Let her in.

[00:02:13]>> The hearings continue.

[00:02:15]Kenny Maphanga, SABC News, Pretoria.