JOHANNESBURG - South Africans are coming together to right a wrong done to a police officer who has stolen people's hearts with his testimony at the Madlanga Commission.
Warrant officer Karl Sander, a senior narcotics investigator for the KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI/Hawks), told the Madlanga Commission that he was intimidated and antagonised when thefts started occurring at the province's drug storage.
After his coffee machine went missing, he was accused of the theft of his own coffee machine and subjected to a polygraph test. Sander was initially informed that he had failed the test.
On Tuesday, Sander was exonerated at the Commission when his polygraph results were read out by Adv. Lee Segeels-Ncube.
Sander just wanted his coffee machine back.
Now, Durban-based paramedic Kyle van Reenen started a Back-A-Buddy campaign on Tuesday to raise funds to get Sander a new coffee machine.
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"To some, it may just be a coffee machine. But to him, it was a small comfort during long days of service," he said.
Van Reenen said the intention was to show Sander support and to get him a new coffee machine.
“What this is doing is that it is showing that South Africans are standing behind good police officers and they have had enough of corruption and are supporting the good guys.
READ: KZN Hawks investigator, Sander breaks down after he's exonerated by Madlanga Commission
“I don't think, for legal reasons and other reasons within the SAPS rules, he can take the money. So I aim to buy the coffee machine and the rest of the money can be donated to the narcotics K9 unit, or he can decide what to do with the money.”
“The initiative started yesterday and runs to the end of the month. It has only been two days, and I can't believe that people are willing to donate this much,” added Van Reenen.
While the initial goal was to raise R5,000 for the coffee machine, at the time of publishing, the money raised amounted to over R184, 844 and counting.
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During his investigations, Sander told the Commission, he had uncovered syndicates linked to the police and other members of top management who knew. As a result, he testified, he was victimised.
In his almost 40 years of service, Sander was passed over for promotions and recognition. He was subsequently moved from narcotics to supply chain in 2025.
Sander had also told the Commission that he had hoped to finish his work with the police after 42 years, which would be in 2028. However, he had changed his mind and was opting for early retirement this year.