MASOYI – The police provincial commissioner, Lt Gen Thulani Ntobela has expressed his concerns about the escalating number of criminal activities committed by police in the province.
A media statement from Ntobela’s office stated that members who know that they were involved in scandalous and abhorrent behaviour, “should voluntarily come forth and resign before displaying the image of SAPS in a disreputable and compromised position”.
This follows a sequence of police reports on officer who had been arrested for corruption at various police stations.
The latest incident involved a 42-year-old warrant officer and a 28-year-old constable from Hazyview police station who recently appeared in the White River Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption.
The two fraudulently issued a R1 500 fine to a tavern owner who was found operating beyond the stipulated trading hours without giving issuing him proper receipts. Hence the matter was reported to Masoyi police station and an investigation uncovered that the suspects did not issue him a receipt and the fine was deliberately issued incorrectly for personal gain.
“We request anyone who was defrauded in the same way, more especially tavern owners in the Hazyview policing area, to come to the police station and submit statements against the suspects,” said Col Leonard Hlathi.
In a different matter the Const Glen Mkhatshwa (33) who was arrested on Sept 4 with a SARS official and a taxi driver at the Komatipoort Border Post appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court.
Mkhatshwa and one of his co-accused, SARS official Mr Norman Ladzane (39) were both granted R5 000 bail each. They will both appear again on October 15. The Mozambican taxi driver Mr Rams Moyane (38) was remanded in custody while police verified his address.
Ntobela is however pleased with the commitment shown by the members who explicitly continue to show no mercy to fellow members who displays villainous behaviour. He also thanked all communities for heeding to his call in terms of bringing positive information that continues to assist the police in nailing criminal and corrupt officials.
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