The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma welcomed the arrest of three serving members as well as a former member, between yesterday and today, by a joint team led by the Hawks.
The members aged between 30 and 56, Captain Phineas Lubisi (SAPS Calcutta), Constable Aretha Mhlongo (SAPS Skukuza) and Constable Rachel Gwebane (Acornhoek Stock Theft Unit) all attached to the Acornhoek Cluster, in whose precinct the world famous Kruger National Park is situated in the province, are alleged to be involved in rhino poaching and trafficking.
The former member who was a Constable, Mr Cloud Lubisi (the son of Captain Lubisi who is also involved in the matter), was dismissed early in the year through an internal disciplinary process after he was arrested for similar allegations. During the arrest of Cloud Lubisi, his father Captain Lubisi was a Station Commander at Skukuza Police Station, working with his son.
The Provincial Commissioner has on numerous occasions warned members and employees not to engage in corruption and other criminal activities. Hence these arrests are most likely to uproot rotten elements from the ranks of the SAPS as well as serve as a deterrent to other members and employees.
Several members have been arrested in recent times, amongst them are two police Constables from Secunda, who were arrested last month on allegations of armed robbery, corruption and defeating the ends of justice. The members allegedly robbed some men whom they found carrying copper cables and took it to some place instead of to the police station.
Another six were arrested earlier on for impersonating SARS Inspection Officers and in the process robbed some foreign national business people.
General Zuma hereby repeat his message to all employees that being attached to the glorious blue means one should be beyond reproach, have the community’s best interests at heart and staying true to the SAPS Code of Conduct.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
