'The reason that we have chosen 8.00pm to launch the attack is that the security men change their shift at that time. I am very hopeful that we will catch them off guard, and they will be very confused. I suggest that those attacking the depot use stun grenades to increase the confusion.'
'From our brief visit to the depot, it looked as if they are armed with AK47's,' I commented. 'Is it not likely that they will open fire with those guns just to protect themselves? They won't know it is the police who are attacking them?'
'Major, we will use a megaphone to let them know that they are surrounded by heavily armed police before opening fire,' Johan explained. 'We will only start firing if they start shooting at us.'
'It doesn't sound as if you need our presence at the attack on the depot,' I offered. 'On the other hand, I would like to be present when you move in on Hansie Joubert, wherever that might take place.'
'I agree with you, Major. I will leave the firefight to the experts and I myself will be involved in the arrest of Mr Joubert and his close associates. I also won't need your other two team members as I don’t want to put them in unnecessary danger.'
I could see from Dale's face that he didn't agree with the decision to exclude him from the action. There was a look of deep disappointment on his face.'
'Are you still staying at the Holiday Inn in Sandton?' Johan asked me,
'I haven't booked in there yet, but I intend to stay there if there are rooms available.'
‘Can you please confirm your accommodation arrangements as soon as you have sorted yourself out?’ Johan said.
'OK guys, you now know what is expected of you. Use the rest of the afternoon to prepare the intricate detail of your plan for tonight's exercise. I don't want a lot of injuries, especially by friendly fire. Good luck.'
Everybody got up and left the room. Johan came over to where I was sitting.
'Major I will pick you up from your hotel at 5.00pm this afternoon if that suits you?'
'That's perfect,' I replied. 'Do you not want me to come and meet you somewhere to save you having to travel to Sandton?'
'No, the Holiday Inn or whatever local hotel you end up in, is as good a place to start from as anywhere. At this stage, we don't know where our man, Mr Joubert, is likely to be.'
'I'll see you later then.'
Johan Nell turned to a man standing close to him and asked him to show us the way out.
Once outside the police station, Reggie showed his frustration with how the meeting had gone.
'Vince, can I not go with you this evening?' he grumbled. 'After what happened to me in Mombasa, you can't expect me just to sit in the hotel while all the action is taking place elsewhere.'
'Reg, it is not my call. Johan is the one in charge, and he has said that he doesn't want to risk having you around. I can't go against his orders and in fact, I agree with him.'
'I also wanted to be involved,' Dale chipped in, also sounding non-too pleased at having no further involvement.'
'Dale, there is no way I would have allowed you to be involved once the shooting starts. Your parents wouldn't be too pleased if you ended up getting shot. I will drop you home on our way to the hotel.'
'Will you make sure that you let me know what happens?' Dale pleaded.
'I will 'phone you on your mobile after the dust has settled, OK?'
'Thanks.'
We dropped Dale off at his home and then went to the Sandton Holiday Inn. They had plenty of rooms available, so we were able to book accommodation. I confirmed details of our hotel booking with Johan Nel.
By the time that I got to my room, it was close to 2.30pm, so I took the opportunity of grabbing two hours sleep. I was showered and waiting in the reception area by five o'clock when my lift arrived. I didn't see Reggie before I left so he must have also gone for a well-earned rest. The lack of sleep the previous night was catching up on both of us. I left the keys to the 4 x 4 with reception and asked them to make sure he got them. He had muttered something about exploring the area when we had checked in.
'Good evening Major, you are looking a bit fresher,' Johan said to me as I got in beside him in the passenger seat of his unmarked police car.
'I am feeling a bit fresher. I managed to get two hours sleep and then had a shower.'
'I envy you; I was only able to grab about an hour's rest in my office.'
'Well let's hope that we are not chasing around the country for a lot of tonight after Mr Joubert,' I said.
'I also don't want another sleepless night.' Johan added. 'It all looks very simple on paper. All we have to do is gain access to the container depot and then pick up Hansie Joubert from his office or his home, what could be easier. We have the advantage of numbers and surprise, which should take care of any opposition.'
'Do you know where Hansie Joubert is at this moment in time?' I asked.
'He visited the container depot in Midrand at the start of the afternoon, but he is now at his office in Sandton. We know that he goes home most days at around 6.00pm, so I am hopeful that he will follow his usual habit today.'
'Where does he live?'
'He has a large house in Rivonia, which is situated about three kilometres away from his office.'
'So what are your plans, Johan? Are you going to park close to his house until the action starts?'
'No, I already have people in place in an adjoining property that overlooks his place. They will monitor the situation. I will park close by so as I can give chase if required.'
He drove to a nearby shopping centre where he parked the car in an unused corner.
'We will wait here so you can catch up on your sleep if you want to,' he said.
I lowered the seat back and had a doze.
His mobile going off woke me.
From the half of the conversation that I was able to listen to, it appeared that our man was on the move.
When he had terminated the call, he turned to me.
'Our man has left his house. He did go home around six o'clock, but he is now heading back towards Sandton. Perhaps he is returning to his office.'
'So what are we going to do?' I asked as the situation was becoming a bit more complicated.
'One of our undercover team is following him on a motorbike, so we will wait here until we get further information.'
It was not a good situation to be in, and I felt that we were losing control. It would have been very simple to move in on his residence, but we were now faced with a moving target. The Kyalami attack would still have to go in at 8.00pm, and there was now a strong possibility that Hansie Joubert would not be at his home. If he was at his office, then we could probably get him there, but nothing was certain.
At 7.30pm, Johan started his car, and we headed towards Sandton. According to the observers, our quarry was still at his office, so the plan was to arrest him there.
Johan's mobile went at 7.50pm. He listened and nodded his head a few times.
'Major, he has just left his office and is heading towards the M1,' he said to me as he terminated the call.
'Where does the M1 go to? I asked.
'If he heads north, then he is probably heading for Midrand, and if the car heads south, then he could be heading for anywhere in Central or Southern Jo'burg.'
'Can you delay the start time of the operation?'
'No, that must go ahead as planned. We need to get closer to our man as he will be informed, in about ten minutes, that his operation is under attack.
His mobile went again.
'So he is heading south on the M1,' Johan confirmed into his 'phone.'
He obviously had the direction confirmed as he switched on his blue flashing lights and siren and we took off at a much higher speed.
'Are we the only car after him?' I asked.
'No, there are another three cars in addition to us. He won't get away.'
He switched on his police frequency radio.
'I can use the radio now as he will know about us being after him and th
e attack has already started on the depot.'
'He has left the M1 at off ramp fifteen,' a voice announced.
'He is most likely heading for Hillbrow,' Johan said.
'Why would he go there?' I asked.
'It is the drugs capital of South Africa, and we know that he has another property there. We also know that house is protected by armed guards.'
'Have you got your gun with you,' Johan asked me.
'Yes, and I also brought my body armour.'
'I think that we are going to need them. It could get rough, and it is hostile territory so he may get help from the criminals in the surrounding buildings.'
'Sounds like a dangerous place.' I was having difficulty in visualising such a hostile area in a major city.
A voice came over the radio announcing they had stormed the depot in Kyalami and were in control of the site.
Johan ordered them to send ten of their men to the Hillbrow area immediately.
The radio came to life again.
'Inspector, Hansie Joubert has holed up in number 33 Twist Street. We are close-by awaiting your arrival.'
'That's fine; we will be with you in around eight minutes. Keep your distance from the house and send some people around the back. Reinforcements are coming from Midrand.'
We pulled up in a relatively narrow street with four-storey houses on either side in the form of a terrace. It was clearly a run-down area and Johan told me that it was in the grip of the drug lords who were mainly of Nigerian extract. There were no gaps between the houses, so, at least, the only way in and out was through the front or the back.
While we waited for the armed police to arrive, the Inspector 'phoned his base. He ordered various items such as spotlights and bulletproof barriers to be brought to the street immediately. He was obviously expecting to have to mount a siege.
'Is there anywhere he can escape to from here?' I asked.
'No, but he can hold out in the house for some time. Let's hope that he comes to his senses and there isn't a prolonged siege with lots of bloodshed on both sides.'
A police officer, dressed in full protective gear, came up to our car. The Inspector got out to talk to him.
After a lengthy discussion, he rejoined me in the car.
'OK Major, we will join them in five minutes. Keep your eyes out for snipers as we are entering enemy territory. The various houses selling drugs and offering prostitution tend to support one another when there is a police raid. Initially, they won't be aware that this raid is on a much higher scale than the usual ones.'
'I had special training in street warfare when I was in the SAS, so I will try and remember all I learnt at the time,' I replied.'
We set off down the road towards the house that was the object of the siege. I kept my Glock at the ready with its safety catch off and a magazine clip locked in place. I was ready for anything.
There was a burst of fire from about one hundred meters in front of us. Some armed police came scurrying towards us. The noise of gunfire ceased.
'They are firing from the first-floor windows,' one of the men who had just joined us, told the Inspector.'
'Is it just one window or are they firing from many of them.'
'I don't know; I just got out of there as fast as possible.' He squatted down, and we joined him.
'There is no point in giving them more targets to fire at Major. We will stay here.'
Johan Nel activated his walkie talkie.
'Where are you,' he asked.
'We are about fifteen minutes away,' came back the reply.
'Approach the house from the top of Twist Street; they are firing at anyone who comes close to number 33.'
'Will do.'
'We have the house surrounded so we will wait for the reinforcements to arrive,' the Inspector said to me.
'Do you not think that they will realise that they have no way out,' I inquired.
'For the life of me, I can't understand why Hansie Joubert came here,' Johan replied. 'He must have realised that we would surround the house, and his was a lost cause. He is now trapped.'
'It just seems a bit stupid that a man with his intelligence and criminal background would get himself into this situation.' I was genuinely puzzled.
'I take it that you want to take him alive if at all possible,' I suggested.
'Yes, we need to find out who makes up the rest of his gang and any other information we can get out of him.'
'Let's hope it all goes to plan then.' The whole situation was not making sense to me. The possibility was going through my head that the Inspector had misinterpreted what was going on. It just seemed too simple.
A short while later a heavily armed police officer came down the street and joined us.
He addressed Johan Nel.
'Is the situation still the same?'
'Yes, nothing has changed,' Johan replied.
'Can we bring our truck down so as we can offload the gear?'
'We are not in the line of fire here, so you should be safe enough,' Johan explained.
'I'll be back in a few minutes.'
The leader of the new group of armed police went back up the street to get his truck and the rest of his men.
'We are in luck,' Johan said. 'I was fearful that they would shoot at us from the other houses in the street, but they are staying out of it.'
The truck pulled up beside us, and they took all the gear out. Ten minutes later they were ready to launch their attack.
The police fired a volley at the building. The noise was deafening as the narrow street amplified the sound of the gunfire.
Unexpectedly a white flag was waved out of one of the windows of number 33.
An officer with a megaphone addressed those inside the house.
'Throw your guns into the street and come out with your hands raised. If anyone starts firing, we will re-commence our attack and shoot to kill.'
The front door opened, and a gun was thrown out. The owner of the weapon followed, with his hands raised. This act was repeated four times.
They all walked across the road to the police lines where they were handcuffed.
'Where are the rest of the people who were in the building?' the Inspector asked.
‘There was nobody else in the building,' one of the men who had come out said.
'Where is your boss, Mr Joubert, we saw him go in there?'
'I don't know who you are talking about; there is nobody else in the house.'
If this man was correct in what he was saying, then we had been conned. The police had made a monstrous blunder.
Four men from the police team were selected to go and search the property.
Fifteen minutes later they were back, but there was nobody else with them.
'We searched the place and even took up some of the floorboards. There was nobody else in there,' one of the men reported. 'We even searched for false rooms. I am convinced it is empty.'
Major, you come with me,' Johan Nel ordered.
Borrowing two torches from the armed police, we went to have a look.
'Let's start in the basement and work our way up,' Johan suggested.
Other than the broken windows in the first floor rooms, where the gang had been firing at us from, there was no sign of anybody else.
In the attic, we found the reason why we hadn’t found Hansie Joubert. A skylight opened out onto the roof and, on further exploration, we established that it was possible to travel from one property to the next over the roofs.
'Bloody hell, Vince. Our man and his cronies have got away.' This was the first time that the Inspector had used my Christian name. He was clearly rattled at losing his man.
'I thought that you had the rear of the building covered,' I said.
'I had the back of number 33 covered, but I didn't have enough men to cover the rest of the street. Let's take a look over there.' He pointed to an open skylight about six houses away
It was a simple job to walk over the roofs as the house
s were all connected. It would have been easy for Hansie, and anybody else who left with him, to have moved to a different house without being spotted from the street. There was a parapet along the street side of the roof.
At the first house in the terrace the skylight was open, on further investigation, we found that a ladder led into the building, and there were signs that this had recently been used. They were long gone and could be anywhere by now.
'Is there CCTV coverage of the area?' I asked.
'I am sure that there is, but the residents often interfere with the cameras as they don't want their illegal activities to be recorded.'
'What are your plans now?' I asked.
'Let's go down to the street and tell the armed back-up that we don't require them anymore. We will then go back to my office and discuss what we do now. Mr Joubert will have disappeared by now as he obviously had this escape route planned for a long time. The chances are that he is already heading out of the country.'
When we rejoined the rest of the officers on the street, Johan had a brief meeting with the leaders. They started to pack up all their gear. In ten minutes they had disappeared, letting the street return to its normal state.
'Would you like a cup of coffee Vince?' Johan asked me when we returned to the police station in Douglasdale. 'It's only out of a machine, but it's not too bad.' I was clearly now Vince to the Inspector.
'I'm sure it is fine, and I could do with one.'
He vanished for a few minutes and came back with two coffees. He threw some sugar sachets down beside the cup. 'I forgot to ask you if you take sugar, so I brought you some just in case.
'I don't, but thanks for the thought.'
'OK Vince, let's make a plan. Tonight wasn't one of the better evenings of my career as a police officer. I also feel that I have let you down.'
'You haven't let me down, but somebody screwed up your carefully laid trap tonight.'
'What do you mean by that remark Vince?'
'Hansie Joubert was obviously warned off prior to the raid on the depot in Kyalami commencing. Somebody on your team or who had the information about the time of the raid must have contacted him. They must have also told him that the police were after him.'
An African Adventure (Vince Hamilton Private Investigator Book 4) Page 24
