The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Mpumalanga, Lt General Mondli Zuma, said in a statement he is concerned over the arrest of a number of police in the province due to unbecoming conduct.
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This came after the arrest of yet another police official, this time 47-year-old Warrant Officer Mandla John Mhlanga stationed at eMbalenhle.
W/O Mhlanga was arrested on Saturday, 5 May for corruption by the anti-corruption unit.
According to information at the police’s disposal, the suspect solicited a bribe under false pretences by contacting a suspect of a theft case, informing the suspect that he could destroy the case docket for a fee.
W/O Mhlanga appeared in the Evander Magistrate’s Court on a charge of corruption and was released on a warning.
The case was postponed to 6 June pending further investigation.
“The Provincial Commissioner hereby reminds members that they are not above the law. Police members who are committing crime will be arrested, sentenced and sent to jail, thereby losing their jobs and their future.”
The statement of the Provincial Commissioner was confirmed by the sentencing of Det Sgt Thamsanqa Osborn Nkosi (41), who was stationed at Volksrust.
He was granted an effective six-year imprisonment sebtence on 3 May by the Amersfoort Regional Court for bribing an investigating officer on a murder case around December 2016, to tamper with the case.
General Zuma also raised his concerns after the arrest of six police constables stationed at the Standerton Detective Branch for business robbery and have since been suspended from duty with effect from 4 May.
The constables, Fika Thabo Makhubu aged 33, Thabiso Phillemon Lepoto aged 35, Jabu George Sekhoto aged 37, Siphiwe Esssau Ntshangase aged 45, Richard Solomon Seboko aged 36 and Hlalanathi Solomuzi Ngcemo aged 37, are out on R1 000 bail each and are scheduled to reappear in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on 12 June.
The Provincial Commissioner vowed that the SAPS will continue to root out rotten elements within the service.
“It is disturbing to see police officials being the ones who are perpetrating crime rather than preventing it. Police are expected to ensure that the vision of the South African Police Service for creating a safe and secure environment for all the people in South Africa is realised”, said General Zuma.
