MPUMALANGA – The Hawks Secunda based Serious Corruption Investigation secured the attendance of two police officials before court after they were allegedly involved in several criminal activities within a space of two days.
According to information at the Directorate’s disposal, a Police Sergeant, Ntsizwa Mthimunye (47) and a Police Constable Malefane Mofokeng (38) were officially on duty when they stopped and searched a truck on the N17 road outside Leslie (Leandra) on 09 October 2023 at about 04:20.
It is alleged that four bags of dagga were found loaded in the truck. According to investigation, the two members assaulted the truck driver and demanded gratification of R5 000 for his release. The police officials allegedly instructed the truck driver to log into his phone banking application. As it took long to open, it is alleged that he was further instructed to contact his employer and source the required amount.
The money was deposited, and out of R5 000 deposited, he only managed to withdraw R4 050.
The bags of dagga were seized by the members.
According to information, on 10 October 2023, on his way back, the driver went to the police station to look for the two police officials with an intention to request R1 000 back for survival as the money deposited by his employer was going to be deducted from his salary.
The two members were at the police station on his arrival. He was allegedly assaulted, handcuffed, instructed to get into the police vehicle, and driven to a secluded area on the N17 road by the same members.
He was left guarded by one police officer when the other drove away with the police vehicle.
Shortly after, the vehicle came back, and two of the four seized bags of dagga were now loaded onto the police vehicle, and the truck driver was arrested for possession of dagga.
Afterwards police in Leslie picked up the incident, the Secunda based Serious Corruption Investigation was informed, and the case docket was registered for further investigation.
The Hawks managed to secure the warrant for their appearance in court. The warning was served to both members on 16 April 2025 for their first court appearance on 12 May 2025.
Both members appeared before Evander Magistrate’s Court for corruption, assault, theft, kidnapping, extortion, and defeating the ends of justice. The matter was postponed to 27 July 2025. Both members were warned by the court to appear in person on their next court date.
“We will continue to root out corruption both inside and outside our ranks,” said the Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga Major General Nico Gerber.