Kimberley – A retired SA Police Service major general, 62-year-old Thuto Gaogakwe Phefo has been sentenced to eight years in prison for soliciting a bribe when he was a police manager seven years ago.
Phefo was arrested in a sting operation on 13 August 2017.
Since then, the former police manager, out on R4 000 bail, appeared in court 48 times for contravening the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
Graft accused Phefo retired from the police in 2020.
Earlier this year on 26 August 2024 the Kimberley Regional Court convicted Phefo and refused to extend his bail. He was remanded in custody.
On Friday, (18 October 2024), the long-running matter came to an end with Phefo’s sentencing to 10 years in prison of which two years were suspended for five years on condition that the same offence is not committed during the period.
The disgraced police manager’s troubles began in 2017 when he tried to make a fast buck from a female candidate officer who had been shortlisted for a Brigadier post.
The court heard that during the assessment for the post, the candidate was approached by Phefo, a police manager with the rank of major general.
Phefo solicited R70 000 from the candidate, saying he could give her a document with information that would be asked for during the interview for the brigadier post.
The candidate, who later turned complainant, said she paid R48 000 to Phefo only to realise that the document he gave her was a “case study”.
Dissatisfied, the candidate filed a complaint with the police resulting in an enquiry into the matter being opened on 2 August 2017.
An entrapment operation led to Phefo’s arrest on 13 August 2017 after he demanded and received the balance of R22 000.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale revealed that the complainant was dismissed from the police.
Commenting on the matter, the National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, (Hawks), Lt Gen (Dr/Adv) Godfrey Lebeya lauded the perseverance and dedication of the investigation and prosecution team in ensuring that the accused is convicted after many delays.
