Two Limpopo cops arrested for corruption
A detective sergeant and a constable from Hlogotlou SAPS face charges of bribery and defeating justice after a corruption probe.
LIMPOPO – Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed the arrest of two police officers from the Hlogotlou SAPS, in the Sekhukhune District, on Friday (January 16).
The officers were arrested by members of the Provincial Unit for Corruption and the Tactical Response Team (TRT) on charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice related to a November 2024 assault GBH case.
Corruption uncovered in GBH investigation
Police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba says one of the arrested officers, a detective sergeant, was the investigating officer for the assault case.
During the investigation, he recovered an unlicensed firearm used in the crime. He instructed the assault suspect to pay the victim R1 500 and to withdraw the case.
The payment was made via an e-wallet to the victim’s cellphone number. The sergeant then took the victim’s phone, withdrew the R1 500, gave the victim R700, and kept the remaining R800 for himself.
The corruption came to light and the case was referred to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit.
Further allegations of dealing and bribery emerge
Further investigation revealed additional incidents. In the same month (November, 2024), the same sergeant was accused of dealing in dagga within the police station’s holding cells. A few days after that incident, he and a constable colleague searched a suspect’s house for dagga.
Upon finding dagga, they allegedly demanded a R2 500 bribe instead of making an arrest. They took R1 000 from the suspect’s pockets and stated they would return for the remaining R1 500.
When they returned to collect the balance, the suspect’s mother approached them. The officers drove away but were pursued and intercepted by a security officer.
Arrests made and court date set
Following an investigation by the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit, the two officers were apprehended.
They are scheduled to appear before the Nebo Magistrate’s Court on Monday (January 19) to face charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
