NELSPRUIT – According to Brig Leonard Hlathi, police spokesperson in Mpumalanga this team ensured that two members attached to the relatively new police station of KaMhlushwa, near Malelane, are brought to book for their unscrupulous behavior.
The two members, a Sergeant, and a Constable, both on their early 30s were arrested on Friday around 17:20, after they were found in possession of three large bags of dagga.
“The team carried out a sting operation after having acquired information that the pair may have been in the process of transporting dagga. It was indicated that the suspects were traveling in one of the members’ private vehicle, with one of them being off-duty and the other, on-duty.”
“The team pulled them off, demanding to search the vehicle, at which point the three bags were found inside the car resulting in their arrest. The suspects are expected to appear at the Tonga Magistrate’s Court today, facing a charge of dealing in dagga,” said Hlathi.
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Meanwhile, at neighbouring Schoemansdal, a joint team also comprising of TRT and station members arrested a 49-year-old Department of Health employee, employed as a Driver, together with a 42-year-old man for dealing in dagga.
The duo was arrested on 06 May 2019, at about 02:30, when they were found with compressed dagga weighing 5.9kg while traveling in a state vehicle belonging to the Department, attached to the Shongwe Hospital.
The suspects have already appeared at the Boschfontein Periodical Court, the following day where David Nkosi aged 49 (department employee) was released on warning whilst his accomplice, 42-year-old Foster Zulu was granted a R500 bail. They are expected to appear on 30 May 2019, at the same court again.
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General Zuma said that it is sad that civil servants including the police are involved in the proliferation of dagga, especially within the Tonga Cluster.
“There is no space for such criminal elements in the SAPS in particular and the government in general. These arrests should serve as a stern warning to other civil servants currently involved in similar activities that their days are numbered because the net is closing on them”, said the Provincial Commissioner.
