An intelligence-driven joint operation between the police and metro police on Wednesday saw the arrest of three police officials who were allegedly attempting to extort money from the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) in charge of human settlement, Clr Lesiba Mpya.
The accused claimed they were in possession of a dossier containing evidence of alleged corruption and malfeasance committed by Mpya, executive mayor Clr Mzwandile Masina, city manager Dr Imogen Mashazi and other senior political figures within the region.
The accused demanded that Mpya pay R5-million in order for them to make the dossier disappear.
Upon receiving these demands, Mpya approached the police and opened a case of extortion and corruption against the three police officers. The police and metro police set up a joint intelligence operation in which the accused were investigated and a sting operation was formulated in order to apprehend them.
Mpya participated in the sting operation on Wednesday evening where he made a money drop-off at a venue prescribed by the three accused in Sunward Park, Boksburg.
Upon handing over the money to the accused, police authorities pounced on the three police officers and arrested them.
The investigations into the three police officers revealed they were connected to a string of anonymous WhatsApp messages that went viral in March, which made false claims of corrupt activity being undertaken by the administration of the executive mayor and senior management staff of the metro.
It was found that messages were being used as an attempt to intimidate Masina and Mpya into paying their R5-m demand.
“We must commend the swift and effective response by both the police and metro police in apprehending these three,” said Masina.
“I am glad that today the truth is finally being unveiled on a malicious and incendiary plot to distract this administration from continuing to deliver quality services to our people. We are now fast closing in on city officers and other individuals involved in these unscrupulous acts of corruption and extortion.
“The City of Ekurhuleni remains steadfast in its zero-tolerance approach to corruption and we expect to make more arrests in the near future,” said Masina.
The three accused were due to appear in court on Thursday.
The names of the accused have been withheld pending their court appearance.
