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Four Mpumalanga Police Officers Detained for Alleged Theft and Corruption

Published November 20, 2024
3 months ago

In a disturbing revelation of police corruption, four officers, three men and a woman, from the Barberton detectives in Mpumalanga have been arrested and are due to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrates Court today, November 15, 2024. Their capture stems from a meticulously coordinated sting by the Hawks' Nelspruit-based Serious Corruption Investigation, Serious Organised Crime Investigation, and Mpumalanga Crime Intelligence.





The incident unfolded on November 14, 2024, when the charged officers allegedly visited a local Zama Zama paymaster's residence under the guise of executing a search warrant. During the operation, they are reported to have found R1.8 million hidden in a bag within a wardrobe. Instead of registering this significant find with the South African Police Services’ property register (SAPS 13) or initiating a formal case docket, the officers purportedly absconded with the cash. The paymaster’s son, who was present during the raid, was taken into custody and held at the police station for five hours without formal charges or documentation.


The situation escalated when Crime Intelligence was alerted and launched an investigation. They instructed the involved officers to return to the station where they produced only R200,000, claiming it was the total sum recovered at the paymaster's home. The paymaster's son then officially filed a theft complaint against the officers.


The subsequent arrests were part of an internal crackdown led by the Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Gerber. In his statement, General Gerber emphasized the Hawks' commitment to rooting out corruption and maintaining strict adherence to the law, reiterating a zero-tolerance stance towards such malfeasance among law enforcement officials.


This case highlights ongoing challenges within South African police forces in combating corruption but also demonstrates the effectiveness of oversight and accountability mechanisms such as the Hawks in addressing these issues.


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