According to Brigadier Leonard Hlathi (SAPS Mpumalanga) and Brigadier Mathapelo Peters (SAPS Gauteng) members from Devon stopped a private vehicle at a static roadblock on the R29 on July 24. The team’s suspicion and subsequent search of the vehicle led to the occupants confessing that they were transporting dagga, but that it had been confiscated by SAPS members who were driving in a marked SAPS Flying Squad vehicle earlier. The flying squad members reportedly also demanded a large sum of money from them.

“When the Gauteng officers realised that the state vehicle described by the occupants had already passed through the roadblock earlier, they immediately set chase and cornered the driver at a road intersection in Springs,” Brig Hlathi said in a statement.

Upon searching the vehicle, the Gauteng members found the dagga and the cash and the two officers were immediately arrested. Not only are they faced with criminal charges, but also departmental steps that have been sanctioned as a matter of urgency by Lieutenant General Zuma (provincial commissioner: Mpumalanga).

In reaction to the arrest, Generals Mawela and Zuma both commended the Gauteng officers who demonstrated discipline by arresting their own.

“They aligned themselves with the SAPS anti-corruption strategy that seeks to root out corruption from within the ranks.”