The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation based in Headquarters Pretoria, has successfully secured a significant victory following the successful sentencing of three police officials for corruption.
Madoda Mduduzi Mhlongo (56), Siyabonga Herbert Mabhida (51), Ntsikelelo Shezi (50) was sentenced by the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 19 June 2025 where they were each sentenced to fifteen (15) years direct imprisonment.
Serious Corruption Investigation component of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, deployed in the Headquarters has secured a successful conviction on 11 June 2025 in a high-profile corruption matter involving three (3) police officers who were attached to the Provincial Taxi Violence Unit in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
According to the Hawks Spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale it was reported on the 13 March 2019, after the complainant was approached by the three police officials who alleged that they were under pressure from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to arrest two suspects due to the alleged murders of key witnesses in a case they were investigating. The officials solicited a gratification of R200,000 from the complainant, in lieu to prevent the arrests. The trio warned that failure to pay would result in the suspects being arrested that same night. Later that evening, the police officials arrived at one of the suspects’ premises, reinforcing the threat.
The matter was reported to the Serious Corruption Investigation component at Head Office. A police operation was authorised in terms of section 252A of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977), and on 29 March 2019, the three implicated police officials, who were all Warrant Officers, were arrested after receiving the R200,000.
The trio appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 1 April 2019 and were each released on R10,000 bail. Their trial commenced on 1 March 2021 and ran over an extended period until they were found guilty of corruption.