The Port Shepstone safe key

What it is

A heavy steel key to the strong-room where about 541kg of seized cocaine was stored at the Port Shepstone office in the R200 million Durban-port cocaine matter. The landlord had assured the Hawks the strong-room could only be accessed with the keys. Brigadier Campbell Nyuswa testified on 17 June 2026 that Major-General Lesetja Senona took possession of both the original and the spare key.

Why it matters

The key anchors the 'who had the keys on the day?' question the commissioners kept returning to. Nyuswa said he suspected the breach was staged precisely because the safe could not be opened without a key - sharpening the chain of responsibility upward onto Senona. It pairs with the breached evidence-store exhibit. Senona disputes the account; all allegations are untested and both are presumed innocent.