Police are allegedly in possession of new evidence - described as “explosive video footage and pictures” - allegedly showing KwaZulu-Natal provincial head Major-General Johan Booysen and the controversial Cato Manor Serious and Violent Crimes Unit celebrating after executing suspects.
At the time, Booysen was the head of the disbanded Cato Manor Unit, which stands accused of murdering 28 people and planting guns on their bodies to cover up their crimes. Previously, both criminal and internal disciplinary charges against Booysen have been withdrawn. He was charged along with members of his unit.
The Sunday Independent understands Booysen will soon be arrested again and charged with, among other things, defeating the ends of justice, fraud, racketeering and murder.
It is alleged Booysen’s unit killed suspects to claim recognition awards from the SA Police Services.
This new revelation comes a few days after Booysen was issued with a notice of intention to suspend him.
An official who did not want to be named said: “We have compelling evidence against Booysen. It is explosive evidence. In the video footage, Booysen and his colleagues are laughing, celebrating and saying ‘we have killed them’. Unit members killed people for fun so that they could claim recognition awards.”
The new evidence emerged after investigators again read the Cato Manor case dockets. According to a confidential document seen by the Sunday Independent, the team found there is sufficient information on the basis of which the four charges of misconduct may be “preferred” against Booysen.
The Hawks’s new internal disciplinary charge sheet accuses him of failing to institute disciplinary steps against members of his unit who allegedly shot and killed Bongani Mkhize after he (Booysen) personally visited the crime scene.
In 2008 Mkhize secured a Durban High Court interdict, alleging police wanted to kill him after he was told police suspected him of masterminding the death of police Lieutenant-Colonel Zethembe Chonco.
Four months later, Mkhize was killed. Hawks’ spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi refused to comment, saying “it’s an internal matter.”
The charge of misconduct against Booysen relates to the murder of a bodyguard, Sibusiso Tembe, and taxi boss Magojela Ndimande. Tembe was an employee of a company called Taxi Violence VIP Protection Unit providing security services to the Taxi Owners.
At the time of the incident he was assigned to guard Ndimande.
In August 2008, Ndimande and Tembe were arrested and taken to Mtunzini Police Station on allegations of the killing of Lieutenant-Colonel Chonco and handed over to the Organised Crime Unit. They were later released.
In September 2008 members of the unit pursued the duo again. They caught them on the N3 Highway near Howick and shot at them.
Booysen and Warrant Officer Oliver Willem Cornelius arrived at the scene in a helicopter and allegedly tampered with the crime scene by placing an AK47 rifle on their victims to create the impression the deceased were armed and/or would have used it to shoot at the police.
Booysen’s unit is also accused of conducting operations outside KwaZulu-Natal.
A commander must ensure members under his or her command comply with this instruction. There were other operations of this nature undertaken in other provinces, it is alleged.
The charge sheet states that at the time KwaMaphumulo and Stanger Taxi Associations in KwaZulu- Natal had been heavily embroiled in conflict that claimed many casualties, among others, the killings of Lieutenant-Colonel Chonco and Inkosi Mbongeni Zondi (ex-Cato Manor organised member).
Chonco was killed on August 27, 2008 while transporting “accused persons” to court. (KTA) was suspected of involvement in the killing of Chonco.
It adds: “It is alleged that the killing of Lieutenant-Colonel Chonco triggered the elimination of all persons suspected of involvement in his death by Cato Manor Unit.
“The death of the victims had occurred under questionable circumstances and the members placed firearms at the scene to justify shooting the victimsand to mislead the investigation.”
In response, Booysen said he has not been informed about the new charges against him and has only received a letter which indicated an intention to suspend him. He has until tomorrow to respond.
“The allegations against me are baseless and without substance and I will defend myself in a court of law. In the past, I have always thought they had compelling evidence and after four years of victimisation they have come up with nothing,” Booysen politely said.
Sunday Independent