A former traffic officer, Meshack Masenjwa (37), was found guilty and sentenced to five years’ direct imprisonment by the Middelburg Regional Court on Wednesday October 26 for corruption. The sentence followed after the accused was arrested in February 2019 during the Conny Project operation.
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According to the Hawks’ spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, information was received about a traffic officer who was demanding money from the motorists for contravening the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 along the N4.
“The entrapment and employment of an agent was operationalised and executed in terms of Section 252A. On the day in question, while the agent was driving next to Wonderfontein, he was stopped by a traffic official who demanded a R100 bribe. He received the money and the transaction was recorded.
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“The matter was brought before the court and a warrant of arrest was authorised and executed on June 24, 2019 whereby the accused was charged for corruption. The investigation was carried forward by the Mbombela-based Serious Corruption Investigation Unit of the Hawks until the accused was sentenced on October 26,” said Sekgotodi.
The provincial head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Zodwa Mokoena, welcomed the sentence and thanked the investigation and prosecution team for securing such a sentence. She further warned those corrupt officials that their days are numbered.
