Four police officers arrested for corruption and theft

Brits – The provincial commissioner of South African Police Service (SAPS) in North West, lieutenant general Sello Kwena, welcomed the arrest of four police sergeants on Thursday 23 April for corruption and theft.

According to police spokesperson brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, the accused – all members of the Brits tactical response team (TRT) and dressed in police uniform – conducted a search at one of the shops in Phase 1 of the Oukasie location outside Brits on 18 April where they found and seized cigarettes. They conducted another search at the shop owner’s bedroom before leaving.

The shop owner noticed immediately after the accused’s departure that his cash and cellular phone were missing and reported the incident to the police. The officers were ultimately arrested by the provincial anti-corruption investigation unit (ACIU). It was discovered during the investigation that the cigarettes that the accused seized during the search were not registered as exhibits at the police station.

At their court appearance in the Brits Magistrates’ Court on 24 April, Sethibogile Gideon Lontshitse, David Kabelo Kotu, Victor Mogomotsi Hlabane and Mduduzi Aaron Mvelase were each granted R1,000 bail and will reappear in court on 29 July.

The provincial commissioner expressed his disappointment about the unethical conduct of the accused and cautioned that the SAPS will show no mercy to its members who commit a crime. He urged members to always act with integrity and to do the right things when nobody is watching them.