WhatTheySaid.co.zaThe Madlanga Commission record, in plain language
The People›Warrant Officer Boy Steve Phakula

Warrant Officer Boy Steve Phakula (SAPS National Intervention Unit)

crime scene manager
Warrant Officer Boy Steve Phakula of the SAPS National Intervention Unit testified about his role at a crime scene involving drugs and suspects including Messrs Mashaba and Ndou. He stated that after contacting his superior, Commander Sephungu, he received permission to assist and proceeded to Alberton SAPS. Phakula said the scene became overcrowded with police officers, disturbing his work, and he advised a colleague to obtain video footage. He claimed that others tried to take control of the scene by intimidation or threat of arrest. Phakula also described being visited in prison by individuals he had not requested to see, and noted discrepancies in forensic exhibit numbers.
551 claims0 scheme(s)9 contradiction(s)
What the record shows (551 total claims — 120 substantive shown)
9 contradictions on the record
◎ Likely — AI-assisted, cited◆ Cross-witness
NLI-f928fbcfce8e
Cannot be in charge of the scene while not being present at the scene at the same time.
Day 117Adv Pooe“Warrant Officer Phakula is in charge of the scene”
◎ Likely — AI-assisted, cited◆ Cross-witness
NLI-74340044d42e
Same person at issue cannot be both available to assist and busy; directly opposed states.
Day 106Warrant Officer Magane“he said he was available to assist”
Day 106Advocate Khumalo SC“who said he was busy”
◎ Likely — AI-assisted, cited◆ Cross-witness
KNN-5f8571e1e821
Claim A affirms he was at the scene; Claim B states he was not at the scene—directly contradictory about same referent.
Day 107Warrant Officer Phakula“Correct, Commissioner.”
◎ Likely — AI-assisted, cited◆ Cross-witness
KNN-3064caec9da4
A says only Phakula called; B lists multiple SAPS officials (Magane, Khan, Sebola, Kadwa) also calling—cannot both be true.
Day 106Warrant Officer Magane“it was still Phakula”
Day 119Adv Baloyi SC“Magane has called, Phakula has called, well somebody has called Khan, somebody has called Sebola, someone has called Kadwa, all of them SAPS officials”
◎ Likely — AI-assisted, cited◆ Cross-witness
KNN-f928fbcfce8e
Cannot be in charge of the scene while not being present at the scene at the same time.
Day 117Adv Pooe“Warrant Officer Phakula is in charge of the scene”
◎ Likely — AI-assisted, cited◆ Cross-witness
KNN-db049deeee04
A says conduct breached exhibit-handling protocol; B affirms nothing wrong with same conduct—cannot both be true.
Day 107Advocate Baloyi SC“is in breach of the protocol about proper handling of exhibits on a crime scene”
Day 108Lieutenant Colonel Sebola“Yes.”
◎ Likely — AI-assisted, cited◆ Cross-witness
KNN-09a9e6ab2f13
One claim says Phakula breached exhibit-handling protocol; the other says he did nothing wrong—cannot both be true of same conduct.
Day 107Advocate Baloyi SC“is in breach of the protocol about proper handling of exhibits on a crime scene”
Day 108Chairperson“he was saying there was nothing wrong that Warrant Officer Phakula had done”
◎ Likely — AI-assisted, cited◆ Cross-witness
KNN-8479db73779a
Claim A says Phakula breached exhibit-handling protocol; Claim B says he did nothing wrong. Both about same conduct; cannot both be true.
Day 107Advocate Baloyi SC“is in breach of the protocol about proper handling of exhibits on a crime scene”
Day 108Chairperson“he was basically saying there was nothing wrong that Warrant Officer Phakula had done”
◎ Likely — AI-assisted, cited
KNN-1c3021ec511e
A claims he smelled suspected cocaine; B claims he could smell it was drug but not cocaine—cannot both be true of same statement.
Day 107Warrant Officer Phakula“I should have said I could smell suspected drugs or suspected Cocaine”
Day 107Warrant Officer Phakula“I wanted to say I could smell it was drug but not Cocaine”