The Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, welcomes the arrest of a police constable in Bloemfontein who was on the wrong side of the law.
The 29-year-old Constable Tsipo Samuel Matlala from Mangaung Visible Policing was arrested by the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit on 10 May 2023. He appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Friday, 12 May 2023 on 12 counts, including extortion, attempted extortion, theft and defeating the ends of justice.
It is alleged that the suspect approached three of his colleagues who are on field training and lied to them by informing them of a case against them. He told them they would lose their jobs.
The constable requested and received R10000 (Ten thousand rand) from each trainee for the case to go away.
He also approached another trainee, lying to her by informing her that a case had been opened against her. He told her a person from IPID would investigate the case and she would lose her job. The constable extorted and received R10 000 with a check premise that he will make this case to disappear.
In another unrelated case, the constable allegedly approached a man after he was the driver of a vehicle that was involved in an accident where passengers were seriously injured. The constable allegedly lied to the complainant, saying that a pedestrian was hit and died and that a murder docket was opened against him.
The constable allegedly requested and received R10 000 promising once more that the case will disappear. More complainants came forward and after the constable became aware of the allegations, he went to the complainant and promised he would return the money.
On 10 May 2023, the complainant called the constable and when he met him, the constable handed some of the money back to the man. The constable was arrested on the spot and police also seized cash.
Constable Matlala appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court and will remain in custody until his next court appearance on 18 May 2023.
The Provincial Commissioner commended the members from the Anti-Corruption Unit in the Free State for their dedication in ensuring the arrest of one of our own employee for his involvement in criminal activities. She reiterated that dishonesty by employees will not be tolerated, as that tarnishes the image of the Service. “We must all be driven by what is entailed in our Code of Conduct as members of the South African Police Service.” Said the Provincial Commissioner.
