BREAKING NEWS
Gauteng Traffic Chief Inspector Samuel Mashaba Placed on Precautionary Suspension
The Gauteng Office of the Premier has placed Gauteng Traffic Police Chief Inspector Samuel Mashaba on precautionary suspension, following his ongoing testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Mashaba has been at the centre of scrutiny over his alleged role in the handling of a July 2021 drug bust in Aeroton, where more than 700 kilograms of cocaine valued at about R300 million were seized from a truck travelling from Durban to Johannesburg.
The Commission has heard evidence that Mashaba received a tip-off from alleged informant Tumelo Nku and became involved in the operation without formally notifying SAPS, despite standard procedures requiring narcotics operations to be escalated to police authorities.
During testimony, Mashaba was also questioned about his communications with Nku, including allegations of financial exchanges and what investigators described as “non-compliance” with proper law enforcement protocols.
The suspension is effective immediately. According to a statement from the provincial government, Mashaba is required to surrender all tools of trade, including his firearm, phone, and laptop, and is barred from entering government premises or contacting staff while investigations continue.
Authorities say the move is part of efforts to protect the integrity of the ongoing inquiry and ensure accountability within law enforcement structures.