The officers, aged between 38 and 50, were arrested in Vereeniging and Welkom on Wednesday (28/6) and Thursday (29/6). According to the Hawks provincial spokesperson, Zweli Mohobeledi, the officers – including a female officer – were arrested separately following investigations by the Hawks' serious organised crime unit. 

The 47-year-old female fraudulently claimed more than R19 000 for fake travelling costs. The four others, from the Kroonstad K9 Unit and Zamdela Police Station, allegedly stole R1 million, which they recovered from members of the public who helped themselves after a cash heist in Sasolburg in 2022.

A 72-hour plan has been activated to hunt down the heavily armed gang who killed a cop and wounded another following a cash-in-transit heist near Sasolburg in the Free State. | @iavanpijoos https://t.co/uvJTOLLEgj

— News24 (@News24) February 5, 2022

The 47-year-old fraud accused officer will appear at the Kestell Magistrate’s Court on 12 July 2023 whilst the four other suspects appeared at the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court on 30 June 2023. Mohobeledi says the arrest of a fifth suspect, who is also a member of the SAPS, is imminent.

“On the first incident, a female Lieutenant Colonel (47) was arrested on 28 June 2023 in Vereeniging for fraud. The officer was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2012. Upon resuming duties in her new post, she did not reside in Kestell. Instead, she reportedly travelled in an official vehicle to and from work between Bethlehem and Kestell. 

‘We are relentless in our efforts to root out corruption, including within our ranks’

“Months later, she allegedly submitted a claim for resettlement costs in the amount of over R19 000 without having relocated to Kestell. The resettlement cost is a benefit given to members who have been appointed to a post outside their primary place of residence.

“The matter was referred to members of the Serious Corruption Investigation Unit based in Bloemfontein who presented a strong case before the court. As a result, a warrant for her arrest was issued.” 

He said in another incident, four members from the Kroonstad K9 Unit and Zamdela SAPS were arrested by the Hawks’ Welkom Serious Corruption Investigation Unit on Thursday (29/6).

“Instead of registering the recovered money in the SAPS store, these police officials pocketed the money. After a meticulous investigation by the Welkom Serious Corruption team, a warrant for their arrest was issued and executed on Thursday.” 

The Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court. PHOTO: Jacaranda News/Nushera Soodyal

The suspects appeared in the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday, facing charges of theft, defeating the ends of justice, and money laundering, said Mohobeledi.

Meanwhile, the Free State Head of the Hawks, Mokgadi Bokaba, has slammed the behaviour of the police officers. Bokaba says the members did not think twice about betraying their oath.

“We are relentless in our efforts to root out corruption, including within our ranks. It is our constitutional duty to rid the system of rotten elements and restore the confidence of South Africans in the police. Rest assured, there will be more arrests to follow as we stamp our independence and that of the state,” says Bokaba.

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