Three witnesses testified in three hours in the corruption trial of former police head Jackie Selebi in the High Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Security consultant Stephen Sander had, on occasion, to be instructed not to refer to people he was testifying about by their first names.

Sander told the court several meetings were held with Selebi and various people connected to a private security company run by Clinton Nassif — the man who headed slain mining magnate Brett Kebble's security.

Contract promises

Sander said in 2003, Nassif told him he had secured a contract with Kebble and his associate John Stratton's company JCI to set up an "investigative company with surveillance teams".

He asked Sander to join him in the company called Central National Security Group (CNSG).

Once Sander agreed, he was taken to meet convicted drug trafficker and former self-proclaimed friend of Selebi's, Glenn Agliotti, at the Dainfern Country Club.

"Nassif told me the reason to meet Agliotti was that he had close ties with the then-commissioner of police Jackie Selebi."

Sander subsequently met Selebi on several occasions, including at the Meat Company in Melrose Arch and at the Melrose Hotel. On one occasion at the Meat Company, he said Selebi handed over a document relating to a contract in Sudan.

"The accused [Selebi] explained to us that it was not possible to perform services to the police at this stage."

However Sander said Selebi told them he was involved in a project in Sudan which he said had international funding which he could use at his discretion. Apparently 80 South African police officials were to be dispatched to the country and the document Selebi allegedly handed over detailed a number of services needed including training, construction and the supply of meals, weapons and ammunition.

Sander said he filled out in the document what services he thought the company and its affiliates could supply. However as time passed, and despite an assurance by Selebi at one stage that "everything was on track", nothing came of it.

Appointing a director

Sander also spoke about a woman named Ntombi Sylvia Mashoba, whom Nassif introduced him to at their company offices.

"He said Ntombi had a very close relationship with the accused from ANC days. I understand she was his secretary, or something to that effect."

At one stage, he said, Mashoba brought the company a tender document for the supply and manufacture of body armour for the police.

During cross-examination, defence lawyer Jaap Cilliers asked if there was a "negative outcome" to this tender.

"Yes," replied Sander, who stands to get indemnity from prosecution on charges including illegal diamond dealing if he was found to have testified "frankly and honestly".

"So you never benefited from either the Sudan issue or the subsequent tender that you lodged?

"That's correct, M'lord," answered Sander.

"Hello Glenn, what is that story you told me about the reservist?"

After Sander, police Superintendent Paula Stefanie Rouland testified how she, along with other police officials, went to Selebi's office and made a presentation about the cellphone records relating to the Brett Kebble murder.

At the meeting, an issue was raised that Kebble might have had a third cellphone on him when he was murdered, which could have been stolen from the scene of the crime. A reservist called Erasmus, who was apparently first on the scene, was mentioned during the meeting.

"The accused [Selebi] took his phone out of his pocket."

Rouland, a forensic investigator who analysed cellphone records, said Selebi then made a call and said: "Hello Glenn, what is that story you told me about the reservist?"

Rouland said she asked Selebi if he had been talking to Agliotti. He ignored her. She said she then asked him for Agliotti's number.

"He replied: 'I don't know numbers'."

Mining magnate Brett Kebble was shot dead in his car in Melrose, Johannesburg, on the night of September 27, 2005.

Rouland said Kebble made seven phone calls to Agliotti from the scene the night before the murder. When police tried to phone Agliotti on the number, it was found to be inactive.

Agliotti, was arrested for the murder in November 2006 and was set to go on trial next year.

Cilliers told the court "the accused has no recollection that he ever phoned Agliotti about a reservist".

During his testimony, Clinton Raymond Fouche, director of the Dainfern Golf Estate, told the court at the end of 2006 he had been approached by the Scorpions for information on Agliotti. He was asked to put a tracking device on Agliotti's car.

He initially agreed, but later told the Scorpions he did not want to be involved. He also told Agliotti he had been approached by the Scorpions.

"He [Agliotti] said I must not worry about it. He did nothing wrong and the Scorpions were trying to get to Mr Selebi through him," Fouche said.

Earlier on Wednesday, three media houses reached an agreement with the legal teams in the case to access certain documents relating to the trial.

Selebi is facing a charge of corruption and another of defeating the ends of justice in connection with at least R1.2-million he allegedly received from Agliotti and others in return for favours.

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