Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu has expressed concern and disappointment over corrupt members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) after four members assaulted and robbed a civilian of nearly R200 000 while others were apprehended for kidnapping.

The theft incident “has cast a dark shadow over the integrity of law enforcement agencies,” the SAPS said in a statement.

The Police Minister explained that on 30 January 2024, a complainant reported a “shocking” incident where individuals, dressed in civilian clothes and purporting to be police officers, approached him. They took him to Fairlands SAPS, where they falsely claimed to be investigating a fraud case against him. He was then assaulted and coerced into allowing the individuals to access his home in Fourways. Once there, his phones were confiscated, and a sum of R180 000 was transferred from his accounts into theirs.

An investigation was swiftly launched, leading to the identification of the suspects involved. All six suspects – four police officers from the Crime Intelligence Unit, alongside an employee of First National Bank (FNB) and a civilian, have since been arrested and appeared in the Randburg Magistrates Court on Monday 12 August 2024.

“Let me be unequivocally clear: corruption within our police force will not be tolerated. The actions of these individuals are a betrayal of the public’s trust and a violation of the very principles that the SAPS stands for—honour, integrity, and service,” Mchunu said.

“The worst thing is that these are members of the Crime Intelligence unit – we condemn their criminal activity in the strongest terms they deserve. Such conduct is not only criminal but deeply dishonourable. We will not allow any further erosion of confidence that the public has in law enforcement agencies. As a matter of urgency, internal disciplinary processes will be instituted against the police officers.

“As the Minister of Police, I assure the public that we will continue to root out corruption wherever it may exist within our ranks. We remain committed to building a police service that is trusted by the people it serves, and we will not rest until justice is served.

“I would like to commend the investigating officers who worked diligently on these cases, ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice. I would also like to commend the affected member of the public who reported this matter. The fight against corruption is a shared responsibility, and we urge the public to continue reporting any suspicious or criminal activities, particularly those involving law enforcement officers. This incident poses a challenge to us, to scrutinise the recruitment of police officers, since these officers are Constables,” Mchunu said.

In another case, the Minister commended the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) following the arrest of two police officers facing charges of kidnapping and extortion.

IPID spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said the two police officers, aged 31 and 33, allegedly approached a man called Pita Muthisse in Springs, Ekurhuleni, and instructed him to get into their vehicle.

Shuping said the officers accused Muthisse of being involved in illegal mining. A community member allegedly called Muthisse and told him that the police officers who allegedly abducted him had handed him to Basotho nationals, who demanded R2 million for his safe return. The ransom was lowered to R150 000 and later to R20 000.

The incident was reported to IPID and the two police officers, both stationed at Midrand Highway Patrol, were arrested. Muthisse was released after the arrest of the police officers.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the head of crime intelligence in the Western Cape, Mzwandile Tiyo, has been dismissed from the SAPS for misconduct.

The chairperson of parliament’s portfolio committee on police, Ian Cameron, said the dismissal of Tiyo followed a Section 34 inquiry to establish his fitness to hold office after allegations that he lost both a laptop and a firearm. He allegedly used crime intelligence resources to find the people who had stolen them and assaulted them.

“The dismissal of Tiyo is tangible proof that misconduct of any form will not be accepted within the service. This is the first step in regaining credibility in the eyes of the community. And it will assure the people that SAPS will conduct their work ethically and within the code of conduct,” said Cameron.

“It is unacceptable that a law enforcement officer unilaterally abused state resources to hide their misdeeds. The fact that the state assets were stolen at a tavern point to sheer disregard for the office he holds.

“The portfolio committee is steadfast in its belief that one of the first pillars in repositioning the SAPS is the removal of rogue and unethical police officers. Those who negatively impact on the credibility of the police. This is a good start. And we hope many similar actions will follow. They will be taken against other officers who operate outside of the code of conduct and the law,” Cameron said in a statement.