The Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court today sentenced Sergeant Naponel Lucas Macheke (42), a member attached to Visible Policing at Mokopane SAPS, to five (5) years’ direct imprisonment after finding him guilty of corruption. The court further declared him unfit to possess a firearm in terms of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.
The conviction relates to an incident that occurred on 20 August 2022, stemming from a dispute between a complainant and one of his employees. The employee subsequently reported an assault case to the South African Police Service.
According to court proceedings, after police attended to the complaint and facilitated medical treatment for the employee, the complainant received a telephone call from an individual identifying himself as a police officer attached to Mokopane SAPS. The officer instructed the complainant to report to the police station, citing the seriousness of the injuries sustained by the employee.
Upon arrival at the station, the police officer demanded R2,000.00 from the complainant. The officer stated that R1,000.00 was intended for the police, while the remaining R1,000.00 would be given to the employee. The complainant informed the officer that he did not have the funds available at that time. He was subsequently instructed to contact the officer once he had secured the money and was thereafter permitted to leave the station.
The complainant reported the matter to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit for investigation.
Following intensive investigations, a Section 252A trap operation was conducted in Mokopane on 29 August 2022. During the operation, the complainant handed over an amount of R500.00 to the suspect as previously arranged. Sergeant Macheke was immediately arrested after receiving the money. The currency was found in his possession and seized as evidence.
The accused was granted bail of R2,000.00 and made several court appearances before the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court prior to his conviction and sentencing.
The National Prosecuting Authority and the South African Police Service have welcomed the sentence as a demonstration of commitment to rooting out corruption within law enforcement institutions.
