Cape Town - Two police officers who forced a security company’s chief executive to pay them R2 000 in bribe money were convicted in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court this week.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Siyabonga Dyakophu and Anele Komanisi each faced a charge of corruption.
They were expected to be sentenced on November 30.
“The court charged and convicted the two with Contravention of S4(1)(a) of POCA – Corrupt Activities relating to public officers (accepting gratification).
“The State alleged that in January 2020, the police arrested (an) employee of Gabriel Security Services for assault on an alleged shoplifter.
“The case did not proceed and on 5 March 2020, the two police officers met with the chief executive of the security company, Jacque Wolhuter, to explain to him what happened to the case against (the security officer) and how hard they worked to get to a stage where the officer could no longer be prosecuted.
“They then demanded R2 000 from Wolhuter, for their challenging work, and agreed to meet him on 9 March 2020, for (Wolhuter) to hand over the money.
“Wolhuter reported the matter to the police, who then obtained authorisation to set up a trap.
“On 9 March 2022, Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit members conducted the trap at Goodwood Mall, with Wolhuter as the agent.
“He handed over the trap money contained in envelopes to the accused and police arrested them while in possession of the trap money,” said Ntabazalila.
State prosecutor advocate Aurelia Harmse argued that the accused were police officers who were supposed to uphold and enforce the law.
“They were also in breach of their legal duty and SAPS duties and brought the already tainted reputation of the SAPS further into disrepute,” said Ntabazalila.
Cape Times