Kgapane Stanley Makhurupetsa’s freedom was cut short after his appeal was withdrawn in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court on Monday, August 7. In 2017 the Hawks, following a public outcry, started an investigation into traffic police officers demanding gratifications from motorists who were caught violating traffic rules.

Because the complaints were received from all over the province, the Hawks initiated an investigation dubbed ‘Siyabangena’. In December 2017, the Hawks in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation, conducted an operation in the Tzaneen area that resulted in the arrest of 15 traffic officers; Makhurupetsa was among them.

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In August 2019, Makhurupetsa was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to four years imprisonment. He appealed against the conviction and his bail was extended pending the outcome of the appeal. Although Makhurupetsa was convicted, he was still working as a traffic police officer.

One of the conditions attached to his bail was that he had to report to the clerk of the court on prescribed dates until the case was finalised. In June this year, Makhurupetsa’s appeal was withdrawn by the court after he failed to report to the clerk of the court as one of his bail conditions on a prescribed date. A warrant of arrest was issued and he was traced and arrested to start his four-year sentence