The victim – Vusi Tshabalala reportedly posted photos and a video clip on social media the following day, in which he stated: “We have been hijacked by a police officer. His name is Gcinumuzi J Mashinini. It happened on the R23 and he works at Balfour Police Station.”
Police provincial spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi confirmed that information at their disposal suggests that a constable from the Balfour Police Station allegedly hijacked a vehicle.
“The constable in question was on duty and driving a state vehicle at the time. He signaled a motorist on the R23 to pull over and stop upon which the constable reportedly approached the driver and ordered him and his wife out of the car. The constable reportedly threatened them at gunpoint and then drove off with the victim’s car, leaving behind the state vehicle. He had been absent from work and missing since then, but was arrested on October 2 after handing himself over to the police. During the arrest, police recovered the victim’s vehicle as well as the state firearm,” Brig Hlathi said.
The constable appeared in Balfour Magistrate’s Court on October 3 on charges of hijacking, use of a government vehicle without consent and theft of a government issued firearm and the case was postponed for legal representation.
The provincial commissioner of the police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma reacted to the incident by saying he is concerned about police officials who are arrested for being involved in criminal activities. He said police are expected to be the custodians of the law and not the ones breaking it.
Two weeks ago, three police officers were arrested during a joint operation led by the Hawks, for their alleged involvement in rhino poaching and trafficking incidents in and around the Kruger National Park. Captain Phineas Lubisi (56) former station commander of Skukuza, who is now working at Calcutta, Constable Thembisile Mhlanga (30) stationed at Skukuza and Constable Rachel Qwebane (33) have since been in custody pending formal bail application on October 8, at the White River Magistrate’s Court.
General Zuma continues to remind police members that no criminal or corrupt element will be kept within the organisation. He further mentioned that the police would not hesitate to arrest their own, if found to be on the wrong side of the law.
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