Number of policemen involved in corruption and bribes, N4 National Road

South African Police Service

Number of policemen involved in corruption and bribes, N4 National Road
Number of policemen involved in corruption and bribes, N4 National Road

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma has strongly warn SAPS members as well as other law enforcement agencies to stay away from corruption or involving themselves in criminal activities.

The words of the General came after an incident where on Wednesday 19 February 2020, some members of the police in Nkomazi were reportedly involved in allegations of corruption where they allegedly solicited bribes from citizens of Mozambique who were travelling on the N4 National Road.

According to reports, on Wednesday 19 February 2020, a team of well dedicated police officials was in the Nkomazi area on a mission to investigate corrupt activities in the area that has been going on for some time. The investigation spiralled from complaints by the taxi industry that they are forced by police to pay R100 per undocumented person found in their cars for them to pass through.

When the team carried out their probe, they spotted a police vehicle which was ferrying foreign nationals, however, reports unveiled that those people were released upon payment of a certain fee. They (team) then set their eyes on those cops and when they realised that they were followed, they drove off in a high speed where they even abandoned the state vehicle and ran into the bushes.

The team then proceeded to a different area on the same day whereby another member who does not have respect for the uniform, also stopped a certain vehicle that was ferrying people from Mozambique. This time it was at Kaapmuiden where R200 was demanded by this greedy official and the bribe was allegedly paid. The team suddenly appeared after witnessing all the drama whereby the member was searched and found with large amount of cash in his possession believed to have been proceeds of corrupt activities. The police Sergeant was immediately arrested.

The determined team aims at tackling all forms of corruption committed by security formations. General Zuma indicated that custodians of the law, cannot be the ones who are hunted by other members but, should operate within the confines of the law. This team was established after authorities received numerous allegations of police officials as well as other law enforcement agencies abusing state vehicles to ferry undocumented persons and receive bribes for their unlawful efforts. General Zuma said the team will make a huge impact in rooting out corruption and it is just a matter of time before all these members who are tarnishing the image of law enforcement agencies, are brought to book to face their day in court.

“We welcome the arrest of people who use our uniform for personal gains and we hope the law will take its course and an example will be made out of such so that others are deterred from following suit. I also order the Detective Team to prioritise their investigation with a view to arrest the remaining suspects.”

“It has come to our attention that corrupt activities are being carried out by some of our members on the N4 Road and these members conduct their illegal business as if there is nothing wrong with it. The countless complains that we received from the public show that corrupt elements within the law enforcement agencies take advantage of undocumented persons between neighbouring countries and South Africa. This has now become like a daily norm that these corrupt officials would let undocumented nationals to pass through as long as they (corrupt officials) get bribes. Such members are not fit to be in our system,” said General Zuma.

Sergeant France Mathabela has since appeared in the Low’s Creek Magistrates’ Court on Friday 21 February 2020 on allegations of corruption and he was granted bail of R1000. He is expected to appear in the same court on 16 April 2020.

South Africa Today – South Africa News

SOURCESouth African Police Service