SAPS officials released on bail

The police’s provincial commissioner in Mpumalanga, Lt Gen Thulani Ntobela is encouraging members of the SAPS to be exemplary to the public in their respective duties by avoiding corrupt and criminal activities as they will be arrested and shown no mercy.

His comment follows the apprehension of two police officers stationed at the Low’s Creek Police Station.

“Law-enforcement officials are not immune from arrest. Anyone found committing a crime or involved in corrupt activities will be taken into custody and treated as such (criminal). I expect you to know the law better and you should at all times uphold the constitution and also respect our code of conduct” said Ntobela.

It is alleged that on Monday February 10, WO Zephaniah Nkosi (45) and Const Vuyisile Mashaba (29), both stationed at Low’s Creek Police Station, were informed about a suspicious bakkie which was spotted by a security guard. The said vehicle was seen driving through the plantations situated on the borders between South Africa and Swaziland near the local policing precinct. The two members on duty then followed the car and managed to stop and search it. They found three male occupants and five bags of dagga loaded on the back of the bakkie.

The cops supposedly demanded cash from the two men identified as prime suspects and in the process Mashaba allegedly assaulted one of them.

The suspects that they only had R500 in their possession. It is further alleged that the police refused the R500 bribe and instructed the suspects to call the people who were to receive the dagga, to help them with money. The suspects did as commanded, but to no avail. The cops then told the bakkie owner to give them R10 000 for the vehicle not to be confiscated and another R5 000 for the dagga.

When their demands were not met, the officials took the drugs and freed the suspects. It was later discovered that only one bag of dagga was recorded on the exhibit register and the other four were unaccounted for. It was noted that the cops had made a false entry on this register that the only bag which was handed in was found left unattended by unknown individuals.

As a result of all these reports, the two officials were arrested on February 12. On February 13, they appeared in the Low’s Creek Periodic Court facing charges of fraud, common assault, defeating the course of justice, theft of exhibits, and also charged under the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act.

Both Nkosi and Mashaba were each released on R1 500 bail, and their case was postponed to March 27.

“I find it very disturbing that the people who are entrusted with the implementation of the law are alleged to have broken it. I am pleased about the brave members who faced their colleagues and put them behind bars. This indicates that no one is above the law. I encourage them to continue to be disciplined members so that we can create a safer and secure province,” said Ntobela.