Six-year sentence for a corrupt cop

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) welcomed the six-year sentence that a former police detective in Thohoyandou, Tshifhiwa Muvhango, received after being found guilty of corruption. The union said that such acts tainted the image of the police force and undid the good work done by law-abiding enforcement officers.

The spokesperson for Popcru, Mr Richard Mamabolo, said Popcru condemned any form of corruption. “It is unfortunate that, from time to time, there would be those within the law-enforcement fraternity who are found on the wrong side of the law. As unfortunate as it is, this should not cloud the entire services since, in this case, it was also law enforcement officers who unfolded this wrongdoing, demonstrating that some are still committed to upholding the law,” said Mamabolo.

The acting spokesperson for the SAPS’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Lethunya Mmuroa, confirmed that the 41-year-old Muvhango was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for corruption. Three years of the sentence were suspended on the condition that he would not commit a similar offence. He was sentenced in the Sibasa Regional Court on Tuesday, 26 March.

Muvhango was a detective constable at Thohoyandou Police Station when the incident occurred on 19 March 2016. He stole a docket in a case that was being investigated by his colleague. “Muvhango approached the complainant, who was arrested for drunken driving and demanded R1,500 gratification in order to make the case disappear,” said Mmuroa. The matter was immediately reported to the Polokwane-based Hawks' members, and an undercover operation was conducted. The accused was arrested immediately after receiving the money that he had demanded.

Date:04 April 2024

By: Silas Nduvheni

Read: 2361