Two Limpopo police officers have been convicted of soliciting a bribe from a suspect’s family in exchange for his release.

• Two officers were convicted of soliciting a bribe from a suspect’s family in exchange for his release.
• They were sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, with two years suspended, and declared unfit to possess firearms.
• During the 2024/25 financial year, 3 167 police officers underwent internal disciplinary processes for allegedly committing crimes.

The Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday sentenced two police officers to four years’ imprisonment, with two years suspended, for corruption and defeating the administration of justice.

The officers, Rapi Prince Sekopana, 52, and Thabang Brian Ledwaba, 32, attached to the Mahwelereng police station in Limpopo, were found guilty of soliciting a bribe from a suspect’s family in exchange for his release.

The incident occurred on 2 January 2023, when the officers responded to a complaint of possession of suspected stolen property in Ga-Molekane village.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the pair arrested a male suspect in connection with the alleged crime and drove away with him without booking him into the police station. They later contacted the suspect’s sister, demanding R1 000 for his release.

“The sister managed to gather R500, which she handed over to the officers along the N11 public road near Molekane village,” said Ledwaba.

“However, instead of releasing her brother, they dropped him off at Mahwelereng Shopping Mall at Moshate crossing. The suspect was re-arrested by members of the community and taken to the police station, where he was detained.”

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Ledwaba said the Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit, led by Colonel Benjamin Mashitisho, launched an investigation into the matter.

The two officers were apprehended on 23 July 2024.

In court, the officers were declared unfit to possess firearms.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe said the police were resolute in their commitment to rooting out corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

According to recent parliamentary replies by Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, 752 cases against SAPS members resulted in criminal convictions over the past three financial years.

Furthermore, during the 2024/25 financial year, 3 167 police officers underwent internal disciplinary processes for allegedly committing crimes, with 1 868 cases finalised. Outcomes of these cases included written warnings, corrective counselling, and, in some instances, dismissal.

Cachalia told Parliament that he was concerned about the current legal and regulatory framework, which allows SAPS members convicted of serious crimes to continue serving as police officers.