Major General Convicted of Corruption in SAPS Recruitment Scandal

In a landmark case that has brought to light the insidious nature of corruption within the ranks of South Africa's law enforcement, the Kimberley Regional Court delivered a decisive blow against malfeasance. Major General (retired), Advocate Thuto Gaogakwe Phefo, age 62, faced the wheel of justice on charges under the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act.

The case against Phefo began in August 2017 when allegations of corrupt activities surfaced involving the manipulation of recruitment processes within the South African Police Service (SAPS). A diligent former employee of SAPS, who embarked on the journey to ascend the ranks, was caught in a deceitful scheme orchestrated by Phefo, who was then a high-standing member of the force.

The complainant, whose aspirations to become a Brigadier were well within reach after being shortlisted for the position, encountered the illicit side of the job procurement process. It was during the assessment phase when Phefo approached her with a document which he claimed contained information pertinent to the pending job interviews. However, what transpired was the realization that this document was, in fact, a case study, and the price for this insider information was a staggering R70,000.

In what could be described as a morally compromising situation, the complainant conceded to pay Phefo R48,000. The pursuit of integrity led to the opening of an enquiry on 2 August 2017 and a carefully planned entrapment operation. The operation reached its peak when Phefo was apprehended on 13 August 2017 upon receiving the balance payment of R22,000. Despite his subsequent arrest and a R4,000 granted bail—which saw Phefo appearing in court 48 times—he somewhat dodged the full weight of the law until now.

The journey to justice has neither been swift nor without consequence. The former police employee who exposed Phefo's corrupt acts was ironically dismissed from SAPS, and the implicated senior manager managed to circumvent departmental condemnation, instead opting for early retirement in March 2020.

Lt Gen (Dr/Adv) Godfrey Lebeya, National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, was appreciative of the steadfast efforts of the investigation and prosecution teams, whose dedication and perseverance eventually culminated in Phefo's conviction, albeit after numerous delays.

With the conviction secured, the court has scheduled sentencing for 18 October 2024. Notably, following the conviction, bail was not reconsidered, and Phefo is currently remanded in custody. This case has undeniably underscored the pernicious effects of corruption within key state apparatus and has reinforced public attention on the need for transparent and honest SAPS recruitment practices.