WARRANT Officer Karl Sander of Klebe in KwaZulu-Natal told the Madlanga Commission yesterday, that he was removed from the drug investigation unit because he was a distraction to officers working with big fish who trade in drugs.
He presented evidence that in order for the underground drug trade to work effectively, big offices need corrupt police officers to work with them.
Sander was transferred to the Provincial Support Services unit in February 2024, as investigations into corruption linked to the drug trade continued.
He told the commission that the suspended head of the Hawks, Major-General Lesetja Senona, gave him a letter about the complaints against him. He pointed out that he was never informed about the outcome of the investigation.
He said in the letter, Senona said that there was a complaint about him (Sander), he said he was not informed in writing about the list of allegations against him, he was told orally.
“I was told that an email was sent to the headquarters, I am accused of providing or assisting the delivery of drugs to one of the bars on Florida Street,” said Sander.
He denied these accusations, saying that he would never sell drugs, and said that if he was corrupt, he would sell drugs.
“My specialty is guns,” he said.
He said that although he was not informed of the outcome of the investigation, he said that he found out on the air that it was completed in four days, and the report was handed over to the Hawks Unit in Port Shepstone.
He also pointed out that although he was changed, his position remained unchanged, he continued to work in his old office and his position did not change.
He told the commission that he was removed because he stepped on the corners of “the wrong” people.
“Perhaps I can say that I became a nuisance to them because I was disrupting their drug trade. For this to happen properly, you need a corrupt police officer,” he said.