Evander – Two alleged dirty cops accused of highway crimes, including beating up offending drivers and forcing them to withdraw cash from ATMs to pay them bribes, have appeared in court.
Police Sergeant 47-Year-Old Ntsizwa Mthimunye and 38-year-old Constable Malefane Mofokeng, on Monday, (12 May 2025), appeared before the Evander Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga for corruption, assault, theft, kidnapping, extortion, and defeating the ends of justice.
The Hawks Secunda-based Serious Corruption Investigation said they secured the court attendance of two police officers accused of being involved in several criminal activities within two days.
Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said: “According to information at the Directorate’s disposal, Police Sergeant Ntsizwa Mthimunye and Constable Malefane Mofokeng were officially on duty when they stopped and searched a truck on the N17 road outside Leslie (Leandra) on 9 October 2023 at about 04:20”.
Lieutenant Colonel Nkosi added: “It is alleged that four bags of dagga were found loaded in the truck.
“According to the investigation, the two members assaulted the truck driver and demanded gratification of R5 000 for his release.”
The police officials allegedly instructed the truck driver to log into his phone banking application.
“As it took long to open, it is alleged that he was further instructed to contact his employer and source the required amount,” said Lieutenant Colonel Nkosi.
“The money was deposited, and out of R5 000 deposited, he only managed to withdraw R4 050.
“The bags of dagga were seized by the members.”
However, on 10 October 2023, the driver went to the police station to request a R1 000 refund from the two police officers because his employer was going to deduct all the money he paid as a bribe from his salary.
“The two members were at the police station on his arrival,” said Lieutenant Colonel Nkosi.
“He was allegedly assaulted, handcuffed, instructed to get into the police vehicle, and driven to a secluded area on the N17 road by the same members.
“He was left guarded by one police officer when the other drove away with the police vehicle.
“Shortly after, the vehicle came back, and two of the four seized bags of dagga were now loaded onto the police vehicle, and the truck driver was arrested for possession of dagga.”
Lieutenant Colonel Nkosi said the police in Leslie found out about the incident, and they informed the Secunda-based Serious Corruption Investigation.
A case docket was registered for further investigation.
Lieutenant Colonel Nkosi said Hawks managed to secure the warrant for their appearance in court. The warning was served to both members on 16 April 2025 for their first court appearance on 12 May 2025.
Both accused appeared before Evander Magistrate’s Court for corruption, assault, theft, kidnapping, extortion, and defeating the ends of justice.
The matter was postponed to 27 July 2025.
They were warned by the court to appear in person on their next court date.
“We will continue to root out corruption both inside and outside our ranks,” said the Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber.
