Five members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) attached to the Vanderbijlpark Visible Policing (Vispol) Task Team appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Regional Court on a charge of corruption after allegedly demanding a R100,000 bribe from a supermarket owner to avoid arrest.
The accused are Sergeants Johannes Thakhisi, 45, Ntombeko Christopher Seya, 44, Mpho Godfrey Molatedi, 39, Nhlanhla Sibusiso Sithole, 42, and Tlokotsi Khanya, 36.
According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, the officers were summoned to court following a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to prosecute them after an investigation by the Hawks’ Vaal Serious Corruption Investigation unit.
Police said the case stems from an incident which happened in October 2024 when the owner of Oreo Supermarket was allegedly attending a mosque and received several phone calls from employees informing him that SAPS members were conducting a raid at his business premises.
When the businessman arrived at the supermarket, he found the five officers searching the premises. The officers reportedly requested the keys to a storage facility, saying they were looking for illicit cigarettes.
The complainant informed the officers that his wife had the keys. The officers then took him with them in an attempt to locate her but were unsuccessful and returned to the supermarket.
The Hawks allege that the officers subsequently demanded R100,000 from the businessman in exchange for not arresting him.
According to investigators, the complainant contacted a friend, who was known to the officers, to intervene. After discussions, the officers allegedly agreed to reduce the amount demanded from R100,000 to R25,000, with the payment to be made at the friend’s supermarket.
While travelling to the second supermarket, with the police officers following in a state vehicle, the complainant contacted the Hawks’ Vaal Serious Corruption Investigation unit to report the alleged bribery demand.
Investigators advised the complainant to delay making the payment to allow for an entrapment operation. The complainant complied by convincing the officers that he needed more time to obtain the money.
The Hawks said an affidavit was obtained from the complainant, and verbal authorisation was granted to proceed with the operation.
However, the suspects did not return to collect the money during the operation. The investigation nevertheless continued, while further allegations of threats and intimidation reported.
The five officers have since made their first appearance in the Vanderbijlpark Regional Court on the corruption charge.
SAPS said it will also institute internal disciplinary proceedings against the officers following their court appearance.
