A woman, her son, a retired cop, and a police station commander have landed in hot water after they were caught trying to cover up an incident in which the driver of a VW polo who crashed did not have a driver’s license.
The alleged cover-up began after an accident occurred on 5 August 2018 on R532 Origstand Road, between Hlabekisa and Matibidi in Mpumalanga when a white Polo VW overturned with five passengers inside.
The passengers – three females and two males – were severely injured.
After a police report on the accident was filed, the Hawks found out that 22-year-old Ralf Baleseng Mabunele – who did not have a driver’s license – was unlawfully behind the steering when the car rolled.
The Hawks further discovered that Mabunele’s mother, 50-year-old Makabateng Sylvia Mohlala allegedly colluded with one Shibu Neclous Mabiloane – a 44-year-old licensed driver – who allegedly agreed to lie to the police that he was the driver when the VW Polo crashed.
At the police station, the trio allegedly colluded with the branch commander now accused of tampering with registers and changed the information identifying the real driver.
The branch commander was allegedly roped into the cover-up by 60-year-old Malamba Frans Khoza, a former branch commander at Dientjie Detectives, now a pensioner,
When the alleged elaborate cover-up was exposed Mabiloane, Mabunele, Mohlala and Khoza were arrested.
They appeared before Dientjie Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, and they were granted R10 000 bail each.
Their case was postponed to 10 February 2022 for further investigation.
