Police arrests – biggest concern

Ermelo – The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga Major General Meshack Nogwanya is concerned about the growing number of police officials arrested in Ermelo.

Up to date, five have been apprehended for charges ranging from stock theft, rape, attempted murder, assault, defeating the ends of justice, corruption and discharging of firearm in a public place.

The concern of General Nogwanya ascended from the latest two incidents wherein two police constables were arrested on allegations of corruption, defeating the ends of justice, assault as well as attempted murder.

“First to be in our books, is Constable Bonginkosi Sibiya 27 years old who was arrested on Wednesday, 20 August 2014. It is alleged that Sibiya fired two shots at his friend whom he earlier sent to buy a Pizza.

It is said that the friend apparently did not buy the agreed size and Sibiya who was allegedly under the influence of liquor got angry,” said Nogwanya.

According to the police, Sibiya again fired another two shots against his colleagues and wrestled with them when they wanted to disarm him.

No one was injured during these two incidents however the police were compelled to formally accuse him regarding his actions hence his arrest.

“Yesterday 21 August 2014, Detective Constable Mduduzi Mahlaba 31 was nabbed in his office while on duty. He is alleged to have falsified information in the official registers of SAPS and involved himself in an alleged corruption activity,” he added.

Mahlaba allegedly took a R1 000 from a family of a house breaking suspect of which he registered the charge against the suspect as possession of unlawful property. The police heard that the R1 000 was for an exchange for the case to be withdrawn.

Both Sibiya and Mahlaba have appeared before the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on 20 and 21 August 2014 respectively.
Sibiya is expected to be back in court on 14 October 2014, whereas Mahlaba on 11 September 2014. Both suspects are out on R500 bail each.

“Though I appreciate the stuns by the dedication and diligence by our members who have the guts to question the conduct of their colleagues, if found to be against the law, I must say that SAPS members must behave themselves.

I will not tolerate any lawlessness amongst our ranks for there is no one who is above the law”, Nogwanya concluded.
The two members apart from being having criminal cases, they still have to answer regarding their conduct internally and that process will commence as soon as possible.