A captain of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been jailed for corruption.
The captain was arrested during a joint sting operation by the National Anti-Corruption Unit of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and the Independent Police Investigations Directorate (IPID).
Captain Shange (58) of the Public Order Police was sentenced to four years direct imprisonment last week after being found guilty of soliciting a bribe from an anti-police officer corruption infiltrated.
In a statement, RTMC said Shange’s arrest and conviction followed an investigation initiated by RTMC’s anti-corruption unit in April 2021.
“The investigation was sparked by a flood of complaints from members of the public who alleged that law enforcement officers were extorting bribes from motorists in South Gauteng.
“Members of the Anti-Corruption Unit followed up on the allegations and found that the corruption was taking place in an operation carried out by members of SAPS,” the statement read.
RTMC said an undercover officer was assigned and went to a roadblock manned by SAPS members at the Johannesburg Observatory. The officer was arrested by Shange who demanded a bribe from the undercover officer for a traffic violation.
Money exchanged hands and Shange was arrested at the scene by the joint team. He was then detained in Yeoville police cells.
On May 27, 2022, Shange was sentenced to four years of direct imprisonment after the team members’ testimonies were presented in the magistrates’ court.
“It is shameful for a senior officer to fall into such shameful circumstances so close to retirement. We thank our team for demonstrating their commitment to upholding ethical driving on the roads, regardless of who is involved and their rank. .
“All citizens are equal before the law,” said RTMC CEO Makhosini Msibi.
(With contributions from the South African government press release)
