Eric Ellias Sibanyoni (47) was sentenced to two years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of fraud, corruption, or theft during the suspension period.

Sibanyoni was a member of the Middelburg Flying Squad and lost his job by taking bribes from motorists on the N4 highway around Wonderfontein.
The unethical activities were brought to light by a tourist who was victimised in 2019.

Upon receiving information, a team, comprised of the Hawks Nelspruit-based Serious Corruption Investigation unit, crime intelligence, and the Road Traffic Management Corporation, was assembled.

The team conducted observations, and the operation led to the arrest of the suspect four months after the complaint was registered with the authorities.

Investigations proved that Sibanyoni was responsible for intentionally benefitting from unethical behaviour contradictory to the South African Police Service’s code of conduct after receiving R100 for looking the other way and not fulfilling his duties.

Sibanyoni was dismissed from the SAPS after an internal departmental procedure was conducted.

The case was finalised yesterday (Monday), where he was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

The Mpumalanga Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Nico Gerber, commended the teamwork displayed by different law enforcement agencies.
“We will not allow criminal elements to infiltrate and shame hard-working honest members. Such individuals do not qualify to remain as members and tarnish the reputation of the South African Police Service.”
He also expressed his dissatisfaction that only a suspended sentence was handed down, “Our investigators work hard to bring successful cases before the court, and the sentence must send a clear message to would-be corrupters,” he added.