A group of 21 officers have been dismissed from the South African Police Service (SAPS) in as part of the National Commissioner’s effort to clean up and professionalise the SAPS. However the woes of these 21 former members are nowhere near over as yet. These officials are yet to appear in the Welkom magistrate court for trial staring in September till November 2015. They are criminally charged with corruption, theft and defeating the ends of justice. This is after they were shamefully dismissed as members of the organisation during their departmental trial.The officials were arrested after the gathering of intensive intelligence information about illegal activities involving gold-dust in the gold-fields area. These 21 officials held the following ranks while they were in the service of the South African Police Service:
- Captain Rahab Makokone Letsie; 47 yrs
- W/O Mbulelo Samson Jaho; 49 yrs
- W/O Pule Lelao John Matlabe; 52 yrs
- W/O Lebuso Daniel David Sempapalele; 50 yrs
- W/O Tshokolo Samuel Makhisa; 42 yrs
- Constable Kedibone Eisa Dlamini; 35 yrs
- Constable Tshediso Johannes Macala; 35 yrs
- Constable Molo Samuel Monyaki, 33 yrs
- Constable Matsietsi Thomas Sebeela; 37 yrs
- Constable Ishmael Tankiso Masilo; 34 yrs
- R/Constable Molemo Macdonald Sehole; 31 yrs
- Constable Samuel Modupe Moeti; 40 yrs
- Constable Tshediso Matthews Rampoporo; 32 yrs
- Constable Zekhethile Joseph Mbena; 34 yrs
- Constable Phinithi Daniel Mpholo; 34 yrs
- Constable Sebolai Hendrik Molete; 38 yrs
- Constable Themba Josiah Mdaka, 36 yrs (NB: Already bought discharge before trial was finalised)
- Sergeant Thuli Daniel Tladi; 50 yrs
- Sergeant Sekaleli Jeremia Tsibulane; 37 yrs
- Constable Thebanyane Michael Masakale; 37 yrs
- Messenger David Mahlalela; 49 yrs
During the departmental trial, the deliberations were more based on their involvement in offences ranging from; contravening the Precious Metals Act, defeating the ends of justice, theft, corruption and money laundering in Gold-Fields. These members, from different units in Welkom and Thabong, were arrested by the Hawks last year after months of intense investigation.
Their dismissal from the organisation emanated from charges of committing common law or statutory offences, conducting themselves in an improper, disgraceful and unacceptable manner; prejudice the administration, discipline or efficiency of a department, office or institution of the State and contravening the prescribed Code of Conduct for the Service or the Public Service which may be applicable to each one of them.
They were all dismissed on 30 July 2015 for departmental and criminal offences they had committed in September 2014. This sanction is an example that corruption and misconduct will not be tolerated within the ranks of South African Police Service.
The National Commissioner remains resolute in her belief that there is no place for criminals in the SAPS. “One of the primary reasons I have ordered the setting up of the National Trial Investigative Unit is to speedily investigate and deal with rogue police officers”, said General Phiyega.
The dismissal of these members brings the total to 1 463 the numbers of members dismissed from the SAPS in the last 3 years under General Phiyega’s watch. Over 250 members remain on suspension of which about 2/3rds are suspended without pay.
“I urge every member of the SAPS to let these dismissals be a reminder of what the outcome will be if any member is caught transgressing”, said General Phiyega
Enquiries:
Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo
Cell: 082 567 4153
