VEREENIGING – Eleven police officials appeared in the Vereeniging Regional Court on Tuesday, January 23, facing charges of corruption, theft, extortion, defeating the administration of justice, and malicious damage to property.

These include senior officers from the Sedibeng District Office, as well as officials from Evaton, Meyerton and the Gauteng Highway Patrol.

The charges stem from an incident on July 4, 2021, when a Chinese national and his father were stopped along Neethling Street in Meyerton by officers in an unmarked Ford double cab.

Accused of unlawfully selling liquor during the lockdown, the complainant’s vehicle was searched but yielded no illegal items.

The complainant alleges that the officers took him to his liquor store, where additional officers joined them.

The police reportedly conducted a search, confiscating liquor worth R600,000, as well as cash totalling R700,000.

The officers are also alleged to have destroyed video camera equipment.

Despite allegedly breaking the system and stealing its hard drive, the officers were unaware of a backup that captured their actions.

The complainant and his father were allegedly handcuffed throughout the ordeal and subsequently arrested on false bribery charges, with police claiming the complainant attempted to bribe them with R3,000.

Following an investigation by the Gauteng Provincial AntiCorruption Unit, the matter was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who decided to prosecute the officers.

Summons were served in November 2024, and the accused were processed accordingly.

Notably, the son of the former District Commissioner, Maj Gen ZE Molefe, who was arrested in Springs late last year, is also featured in this case.

Constable Thabiso Pule Molefe and Panother accuded person made a brief appearance in the court in Springs on charges of kidnapping and extortion.

The other accused are Colonel MI Gulashe, Leiutenant Colonel PP Tshabalala, Constable ET Malala, Constable NH Radebe, Constable DM Logenberg, Constable GW Lekgowe, Constable GW Lekgowe, Constable WN Mtshali, Constable T Rabolila, Sergeant VD Bosch, Constable and Sergeant NY Mphasane.

The case has been postponed until March 6th for further investigation.