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In a landmark ruling that underscores the judiciary's intolerance for corruption within its ranks, former court interpreter Buzizwe Zitha, aged 43, has been sentenced to a term of five years in direct imprisonment by the Nelspruit Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Mpumalanga.
Zitha, who worked at the Mkhuhlu Magistrates court in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, was arrested on 15 April 2021 after soliciting bribes from an individual facing domestic violence-related charges. According to reports, in 2020, Zitha had approached the accused and offered to facilitate the withdrawal of the two cases in exchange for payments totaling R11200. The accused was misled into paying with the belief that the money would serve various unlawful purposes, from case withdrawals, to securing bail, and even covering fuel and alcohol expenses for a prosecutor.
The matter caught the attention of the Hawks' Nelspruit-based Serious Corruption Investigation unit, which subsequently pursued a thorough investigation leading to Zitha's arrest and the issue of a J50 warrant. Following his bail being set at R5000, an internal disciplinary hearing within the justice department led to his dismissal.
After several court appearances and the revocation of his bail upon conviction on 11 November 2024, Zitha was handed an 8-year prison sentence. Three years of this sentence is suspended for 5 years, contingent upon him not committing further acts of corruption during this period.
Major General Gerber, the Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, hailed the investigative team for their diligent efforts that yielded the guilty verdict and praised the prosecution for imposing a stringent sentence. He echoed sentiments of zero tolerance for corruption, urging integrity amongst officials and encouraging the community to report illicit activities, potentially preventing future miscarriages of justice.
The judiciary's decisive action in this case is a clear message: corruption will be met with stringent punishment. This ruling is a step toward restoring integrity and public trust in South African courts.