TMPD officer charged with corruption, released on bail
“The victim was driving a bakkie with a trailer on tow along Hans Strydom Road in Silverton.”
A corruption case against a Tshwane metro police (TMPD) officer has been postponed to May 12 for further investigation.
This as the officer in question appeared in court this week facing corruption charges and was granted R2 000 bail.
Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) Captain Lloyd Ramovha said Lerato Ruth Zungu (36) appeared in the Pretoria Central magistrate’s court, charged for corruption after she reportedly solicited money from a motorist.
“The victim was driving a bakkie with a trailer on tow along Hans Strydom Road in Silverton.
The vehicle was stopped by officers for an apparent random spot check.”
Ramovha said Zungu approached the vehicle, inspected it as well as the trailer.
“Following the inspection, the motorist was informed that the trailer was not roadworthy.”
He said the constable then stated that both the vehicle and the trailer would be impounded unless a R2 000 was paid to her.
He said the victim said he needed to organise the funds.
Ramovha said the victim then alerted the Hawks’ serious corruption crime investigation team and the constable was arrested upon receiving the funds.
TMPD spokesperson Superintendent Isaac Mahamba recently urged motorists to report incidents of corruption or intimidation.
“As the department, we have established a unit that deals with such complaints,” Mahamba said.
“We will assign a team that will deal with this matter and obtain statements from the complainant and the affected officers.”
Mahamba said that according to the Road Traffic Act, officers had to produce appointment cards if requested by motorists.
He said if an officer’s name tag is not displayed, the motorist should note the fleet number or number plate on the vehicle.
“Internally, we will be able to identify the members who were in that car at the time.”
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Over 200 TMPD staff are allegedly facing criminal charges or disciplinary proceeding while 54 officers already have a criminal record for serious offences such as rape and murder, according to former Tshwane MMC for community safety Grandi Theunissen.
“Over 200 of the metro police officers have been charged on a disciplinary basis, while over 20 are charged criminally and arrested.
“Some cases are pending and others are ongoing in court.”
He said the investigations were mainly of extortion and corruption while other criminal records related to falsified documents during the application for posts.
Theunissen said the shocking revelation was brought to the metro’s attention when the officers applied to renew their firearm permits.
“In the process of renewal, we need to check their criminal records, using fingerprints.”
He said the verification was ongoing and “the metro does not have the capacity internally” to do the job hence the city manager’s approval had to be sought for the appointment of a service provider.
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