The officers were found guilty on three charges after they were arrested in March 2017 for allegedly accepting bribes from Lesotho nationals to rectify their lapsed passports at the Ficksburg border post. 

Judge Mbele sentenced accused number one to six number six each an effective jail term of 12 years imprisonment and sentenced accused number seven to 6 years imprisonment, running concurrently. In sentencing, the Judge said the accused all put the safety and security of South Africans in danger for their own selfish reasons.

Judge Mbele sentenced the accused in the matter as follows:

Accused number one to six, on each charge of racketeering they were sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, corruption 12 years and 12 months for violating the immigration act, but the sentences are to run concurrently.

The sentenced police officers are Philemon Moloi (32), Malefetsane Amos Khala (33), Lapapa Gerth Thithi (37), Dumisani Jeffery Matobako (35), Shale Vincent Mokhitli (37), Modise Abel Malefane (37), and Manthoto Edith Qasha (35).

Advocate Andries Nkome represented accused number 1 Moloi, 2 Khala, 3 Thithi, 5 Mokhitli and 6 Malefane. Advocate Lerata Mashee represented accused number 4 Matobako, while Advocate Rene Bester represented the only female accused in the matter, Qasha.

Judge Mbele said the argument that the accused made a little money through the said crime was immaterial as this was about the conduct of police officials.  She said accused number one to number six did not even show remorse or take responsibility for what they have done. She further added that the sentence was not harsh to punish the officers but rather to make sure that the rule of law is upheld in this regard. The state argued between 31 March 2016 and 1 September 2016, at or near Ficksburg and within the jurisdictional area of the Free State High Court, the accused wrongfully and unlawfully took the bribes. The accused solicited bribes from Lesotho nationals who wanted to cross between South Africa and Lesotho.

OFM News