SAPS Officer Marumo Magane Admits To Tampering With Evidence In 741kg Cocaine Bust

A South African Police Service (SAPS) officer has admitted to interfering with evidence during the investigation of a massive cocaine seizure involving 741 kilograms of drugs.

Marumo Magane, who serves as commander of the SAPS Crime Information Management and Analysis Centre, made the admission while testifying before the commission on Tuesday.

Marumo Magane Questioned Over Role In 741kg Cocaine Bust

The commission heard that Magane’s duties are largely office-based as part of his role in crime analytics. Despite this, he personally followed up on information regarding a truck allegedly transporting a substantial quantity of drugs in Aeroton, south of Johannesburg, on 9 July 2021.

Magane told the commission that he was contacted by Chief Samuel Mashaba and asked to come to the scene. The truck was later found carrying 741 kilograms of cocaine.

741kg Cocaine Evidence Handled Without Gloves

During proceedings, the commission heard that several procedures linked to crime scene management were not followed. Among the concerns raised was the decision to break the truck’s seal without photographing it beforehand.

The commission also heard that the drugs were removed from the truck and loaded into Magane’s bakkie without gloves being used. Magane later conceded that he had tampered with evidence by touching the drugs with bare hands.

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Commission chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga strongly criticised the conduct of both officers during questioning.

Madlanga: “You were clueless and you knew that you were clueless.”

Magane: “That’s correct, Commissioner.”

Madlanga: “Mashaba was clueless and you must have known he too was clueless, correct?”

Magane: “Correct, Commissioner.”

Commission Criticises SAPS Crime Scene Handling

The chairperson further questioned why the officers handled evidence despite lacking proper crime scene preservation procedures.

Madlanga: “So what on earth were you doing handling any of the objects there, the container and the objects?”

Magane responded: “Commissioner, we were innocently trying to process the scene.”

Magane has since admitted that standard SAPS procedures relating to crime scene preservation were not followed during the operation.