Former Police Officer in Mpumalanga Sentenced for Obstructing Justice Over Illegal Mining Operation

Justice was served in the Delmas Magistrate's Court in Mpumalanga on February 12, 2025, as former police officer Samuel Bassie Mahlangu, aged 61, faced the consequences of his actions. Convicted of defeating the ends of justice and tampering with critical evidence, Mahlangu received a sentencing ultimate of three years in prison, with an alternative option of paying a R15,000 fine.

The inception of this case was deeply rooted in a disruptive operation against illegal mining carried out on August 1, 2023, by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and National Crime Intelligence. The operation unveiled that gold-bearing material had been compromised under Mahlangu's watch at the Delmas South African Police Service (SAPS) where he was stationed.

Mahlangu, who had signed the receipt of the seized gold materials into the SAPS exhibits register, acted contrary to protocol. The subsequent day, during a detailed scrutiny by the National Crime Intelligence, Mahlangu confessed to disposing of the gold material, claiming ignorance of its documented nature. The disposal site he indicated was a mere garbage bin behind the police station, devoid of any official disposal paperwork or records.

This act of evidence tampering by a sworn-in officer of the law led to his summons by the Hawks Middelburg-based Serious Corruption Investigation unit on May 14, 2024. His plea found little sympathy in court, leading to the three-year sentence ordained by the magistrate. As part of this sentence, one year or an equivalent of a R5,000 fine is suspended on the condition of no repeat offenses for five years.

This case marks a significant warning to law enforcement officials involved, directly or indirectly, in illegal activities, underlining the punitive measures awaiting those who betray their badges. It also emphasizes the ongoing efforts of South African judicial authorities to clamp down on illegal mining—a rampant issue affecting various regions across the country.

In essence, Mahlangu's fate underscores a larger narrative of accountability and integrity within the South African police force, affirming the nation’s commitment to justice, even against its own.