Not all cops wear capes, some allegedly wear handcuffs.

Johannesburg is reeling after a major police corruption scandal saw four police officers and a metro traffic cop arrested over the alleged theft of nearly R900,000 during a suspicious raid on a city business. The arrests, made on Thursday, July 3, have sparked public outrage and renewed calls for deeper reform within the police ranks.

The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI) unit swooped in after the shop owner reported that most of the cash seized in a police raid never made it into official evidence logs, a red flag that would blow the lid off what appears to be a criminal operation carried out by those meant to uphold the law.

From crime-fighters to suspects

Among the arrested are:

• Captain Letlhogonolo Andrew Molatlhegi (59)

• Warrant Officer Mabutho Masina (46)

• Constables Mpho Irvyn Netshivhera and Nhlamulo Matsilela (both 30)

• Simon Mapusi Rakuba (47), a Johannesburg Metro Police Department officer

• Two civilians allegedly involved in the theft: Lebogang Tseto (41) and another unnamed individual

The suspects are set to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on Friday, July 4, facing charges linked to theft, corruption, and abuse of power.

A raid gone wrong or by design?

According to Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, the incident dates back to June 30, when a shop employee phoned the owner, warning that police were on the premises. Before the conversation could continue, the call mysteriously ended.

By the time the shop owner arrived, he found the store shut and employees detained at Johannesburg Central Police Station, accused of violating Section 9 of the Currency and Exchanges Act of 1933, a seldom-used law related to currency controls.

However, after reviewing the case, authorities withdrew all charges against the employees. That’s when the real twist emerged.

The shop owner filed a separate report with the Hawks, alleging that approximately R900,000 in cash had disappeared, with only a small portion officially booked into evidence.

Cash, clues and corruption

A swift investigation led the Hawks to Newtown, where they conducted a search of several vehicles connected to the officers. In one of them, they found a substantial amount of hidden cash, believed to be part of the missing money.

Further enquiries linked four more officials and accomplices to the crime all now in custody. The investigation is ongoing, and additional arrests have not been ruled out.

Public trust in freefall

On social media, reaction has been fierce. Users expressed disbelief and anger that police uniforms are being used to commit theft, not fight it.

“The same people we call in an emergency are turning into robbers with badges. We are on our own,” tweeted one Joburg resident.

Others questioned how long such acts have gone undetected, especially during operations involving cash businesses.

A pattern, not an outlier?

While this case is making headlines, it’s not an isolated incident. The SAPS has been rocked by corruption allegations in recent years, from evidence tampering to bribery, and even ties to criminal syndicates. But this case stands out due to the sheer brazenness of the theft and the high rank of those involved.

What now?

The suspects are expected to face formal charges including theft, corruption, defeating the ends of justice, and potentially racketeering depending on the investigation’s findings.

As for the shop owner, sources close to the case say he’s considering civil legal action to recover the missing money.

When the people tasked with enforcing the law become the ones breaking it, the public loses more than money, they lose trust. The R900,000 allegedly stolen is shocking, yes. But the erosion of public confidence in the police may prove even more costly.

{Source: IOL}

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