Businessman Tumelo Nku claims he has done consultation work for foreign intelligence agencies.
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Businessman Tumelo Nku, who claimed to be a police informant at the scene of the R300 million Aeroton drug bust in 2021, has told the Madlanga Commission that he is a consultant whose clients include tenderpreneurs, has consulted for foreign intelligence agencies, and received payments.
Testifying before the commission on Thursday, Nku told the commission that he is an entrepreneur with proficiency in data analysis, ‘ethical hacking’, consignment and inventory management, and conducting cyber-penetration testing and research for various organisations.
He had been subpoenaed by the commission to explain his role at the scene of the Aeroton drug bust in Johannesburg.
Nku was arrested at an Aeroton drug bust scene, alongside Samuel Mashaba, who worked in traffic services and served as the acting deputy director of Gauteng’s Community Safety Department; Warrant Officer Steve Phakula, a member of the National Intervention Unit; and Warrant Officer Marumo Magane of the Zonkizizwe police station.
The commission has heard testimony that Nku supplied information about a truck carrying drugs to Mashaba.
Evidence shown at the commission showed that he travelled to Durban and tailed the truck carrying drugs from Durban to Johannesburg.
Nku told the commission: “As a software developer and cybersecurity practitioner, I have frequently undertaken cyber-intelligence consultations and provided both offensive and defensive cybersecurity solutions to various entities. My work has also included the real-time tracking of information in support of law enforcement investigations.”
However, the commissioners wanted to know what exactly his role was in assisting law enforcement agencies with information.
Nku conceded that he did not have a formal working arrangement with any domestic intelligence agencies.
“I have been paid by intelligence agencies abroad for the consultation work I have done. I have never received any payments from domestic intelligence agencies, but I’m still building rapport with law enforcement agencies,” he said.
He conceded that he has never been registered as an informant by the country’s law enforcement agencies.
When Nku was arrested at the scene, he was found in possession of R60,000 cash in his car.
He stated that he had approximately R64,000 to R65,000 in cash for hotel bookings, tolls, and petrol.
The commission’s Chairperson, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, asked Nku: “What did you expect to happen that necessitated you to carry cash?”
Nku said he expected his stay in Durban to be longer.
To which Madlanga said: “Why must you carry R64,000 to R65,000? Why could you not have used your cards for that?”
Nku said it was petty cash for his company, which he was going to deposit, and that he did not use his bank cards because he wanted to be as discreet as possible. However, the commissioners were not convinced by his explanation.
Nku said he did not expect to be paid for the information he offered about the Aeroton drug bust operation.
Among the people he supplied information to were the late Lieutenant-General Sindile Mfazi and Mashaba.
He said he only shared information with Mfazi once.
The testimony continues.