KEY POINTS
- Two Phalaborwa police officers, aged 43 and 50, are set to appear in court on February 24, 2024, accused of stealing and selling seized copper exhibits meant for lawful disposal.
- The officers allegedly sold the copper to a local scrap metal dealer and pocketed the proceeds, depositing only a fraction of the money into the SAPS finance system.
- The Limpopo Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit investigated the case, leading to the officers’ arrest, while Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe emphasized the SAPS’s commitment to rooting out corruption.
Two police officers stationed in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, are set to appear in court after being accused of stealing and selling seized copper exhibits meant for lawful disposal.
The officers, aged 43 and 50, are scheduled to face the Phalaborwa Magistrate’s Court on February 24, 2024, to answer to charges of theft.
The officers, who were entrusted with the responsibility of disposing of copper exhibits seized in criminal cases, allegedly abused their positions by selling the metals to a local scrap dealer for personal gain.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the officers booked out the copper exhibits on February 1, 2024, under the pretense of lawful disposal.
However, instead of following proper procedures, they allegedly made multiple sales to a local scrap metal dealer and pocketed a significant portion of the proceeds. “Upon arrival at the station, the only money deposited at Finance was from one of them, being only a quarter of the amount instead of the whole amount as received from the dealer,” Ledwaba revealed.
Limpopo Police Crack Down on Corruption as Officers Allegedly Betray Public Trust
The alleged misconduct did not end there. Just over a week later, on February 9, 2024, one of the officers, a female, reportedly returned to the same scrap metal dealer and illegally sold more copper without authorization. Ledwaba confirmed that the money from this second transaction was never deposited into the South African Police Service (SAPS) finance system.
The incident came to light after suspicions were raised about the officers’ activities, prompting an investigation by the Limpopo Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit. The probe uncovered sufficient evidence to charge the officers with theft, leading to their arrest. The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, praised the investigation and reiterated the SAPS’s commitment to rooting out corruption within its ranks.
“Corruption within the police service undermines public trust and the rule of law. We will not tolerate any form of misconduct, and those found guilty will face the full might of the law,” Hadebe said. She emphasized that the SAPS remains dedicated to maintaining integrity and accountability, particularly among officers tasked with handling sensitive materials such as seized exhibits.
