A South African police officer at the Sabie Police Station in Mpumalanga has been arrested for stealing railway tracks belonging to Transnet.
“A 32-year-old police constable, Dumisani Khumalo, was arrested with three other suspects by Phoenix Security personnel.
“The three suspects have been identified as Bongani Shabangu (43), James Mathebula (42), and Masonwabi Mabokwe Thabang Zandonkwani (38),” said Captain Dineo Sekgotodi.
According to the police, they were caught red-handed near Graskop, loaded with broken railway tracks and unloaded into the back of a truck.
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They were charged with theft, possession of suspected stolen goods and damage to vital infrastructure.
“A case was opened and handed over to the Nelspruit-based Hawks for further handling and the exhibit was confiscated for further investigation,” added Captain Dineo Sekgotodi.
The suspects were tried at the Graskop Court on Thursday, February 9, 2023. The case was adjourned to February 16, 2023, for an official bail application as they remain in custody.
Two policemen were arrested for extortion
In a separate incident, two other police officers were arrested in Limpopo after it was alleged that they had tried to get money from the suspect in exchange for canceling the docket against him.
The police officer demanded R15 000 from the man whose name was listed on the docket.
The man allegedly paid R10 000, but the officer refused to make the docket disappear and insisted on paying the balance. That’s when the man decided to report the police officer to the provincial anti-corruption unit.
The police member was immediately arrested and charged.
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The Provincial Chief of the Hawks, Major General Nico Gerber, issued a warning to government employees that no one is above the law.
“Anyone who commits a crime will face the full force of the law,” he said.