Warrant Officer Karl Sander's coffee machine campaign hits major funding milestone

The campaign supporting Warrant Officer Karl Sander has officially reached a major milestone, with R656,064 transferred into an attorney’s trust account.

Kyle van Reenen, who started the campaign said over the past month, Warrant Officer Sander and the campaign organisers worked with BackaBuddy to ensure the funds were processed correctly, transparently and in line with the necessary requirements.

Sander, a senior investigator at Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) or the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal, testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in relation to the theft of more than 500 kilograms of cocaine bricks worth R200 million from the Port Shepstone Hawks office in November 2021.

He added that his coffee machine was also stolen - and that he had to undergo a polygraph afterwards.

"I passed. I just wanted my coffee machine back. I didn't get it back," Sander said.

"My only safe space was my coffee machine and then they stole my coffee machine (from) inside the DPCI. I am laughing about it but it is still so annoying and I had to get polygraphed because of the theft of my own coffee machine," he added.

Van Reenen when the campaign started, it was about far more than replacing a coffee machine.

"It became an opportunity for ordinary South Africans to stand behind a man who has dedicated decades of his life to serving our country," he said.

Van Reenen said the amount raised reflected the strong response from members of the public who donated, shared the campaign and sent messages of support.

"The next phase will focus on the allocation and use of the funds. Further updates will be provided in due course, with organisers pledging to maintain the transparency that has guided the campaign," van Reenen added.