The South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued a stark warning that the publication of leaked affidavits in ongoing drug investigations is placing the lives of witnesses and their families in danger.
This follows a front-page report in the Sunday Times that published details from an affidavit by Seunkie Mokubung, also known as DJ Vetty, linked to the murder of Oupa Sefoka, also known as DJ Sumbody.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the circulation of such sensitive material carries serious risks.
“The publication or dissemination of leaked affidavits, especially those containing details of witnesses, informants, and evidence, poses a direct and dangerous risk to the safety and lives of individuals who have come forward to assist police investigations.”
“It's not only the Witnesses lives at risk but their families too,” she said.
Mathe warned that exposing identities in high-profile cases undermines the trust on which investigations depend and could discourage witnesses from coming forward.
“Furthermore, the premature release of such information has the potential to compromise ongoing investigations and alert criminals on police ongoing investigations,” she added.
She said the protection of witnesses remains critical in complex organised crime cases.
“We would like to emphasize that the protection of witnesses and their families is of critical importance to the work of the police.”
Mathe also issued a direct warning to members of the legal fraternity.
“We also make a call to some lawyers, attorneys and advocates working on these high-profile cases not to leak information to the media and use that information solely to prepare for trial ready cases,” she said.
SAPS further urged social media users to avoid speculation and naming individuals linked to investigations, warning that such actions could have serious consequences.
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za