The Hawks has arrested a 72 year old parolee, known as Bra Solly Motsepe, who absconded last year and is believed to have facilitated a fraudulent cleaning of his records in the Department of Correctional Services.
The parolee was arrested by immigration officials of the Department of Home Affairs at the Oshoek Border Post between South Africa and Swaziland yesterday while trying to cross back into South Africa. He was fetched by the Hawks today, 18 February 2011 on the basis of a warrant of arrest issued by the Department of Correctional Services for skipping and flouting his parole conditions. Parolee Motsepe will be detained in a correctional centre as he is expected to complete the remaining years of his sentence that ends in 2017 behind bars.
In addition Motsepe is expected to face charges of fraud and corruption relating to the wiping-off of his records from Correctional Services by an IT official that was suspended in November 2010, arrested, charged and granted a R3 000 bail. The official, Mr Gregory Mohapi Malebo, is expected to reappear in court on the 11 March 2011. Police have confirmed that an investigation is at an advanced stage and both Motsepe and Malebo will face fraud and corruption charges.
Correctional Services National Commissioner Tom Moyane welcomed the re-arrest of Motsepe and thanked the vigilance of the immigration officials and The Hawks that resulted in the arrest of Motsepe. He said the arrest again sends a clear message that even if some offenders could run they cannot hide from the long arm of the law. Commissioner Moyane said step by step the Department of Correctional Services is closing the space against fraudsters and corrupt officials in line with government commitment to good governance. He re-iterated his confidence in the country’s criminal justice system whose collaboration with the public continues to grow.
Motsepe is a convicted multi-millionaire drug kingpin who was arrested in the 1990s following the discovery of over R20 million worth of mandrax tablets and drug manufacturing equipment.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
