MBOMBELA – Four police constables of the White River Flying Squad arrested in connection with soliticing a bribe from a minibus taxi on November 26 were released on R5 000 bail each.
Merss Bongani Nene (35), Sthembiso Mayisela (34), Zakhele Nyundu (31) and Ms Promise Manzini (27) together with the owner of the counterfeit goods from whom they solicited the bribe, a 56-year-old Ms Safina Matja were all released on R5 000 bail by the Nelspruit Magistrate Court on December 2. They were also instructed to hand their travelling documents to the police and not to leave the province while on bail.
Col Leonard Hlathi said internal investigations against the members were still underway and are not suspended.
“Their commander is expected to write a report to the provincial commissioner who will also write them a letter informing them of his intentions where to suspend them or not, the officials will then respond to the commissioner giving their reasons why they think they should not be suspended,” he said.
The police are believed to have allowed the minibus taxi which was loaded with four boxes of counterfeit All Star tekkies worth an estimated street value of R200 000, to continue with its journey.
A preliminary probe by the police indicated that the vehicle which was travelling on the N4 Highway, was stopped by the said constables just approximately 14km outside Nelspruit towards Middelburg.
