A Captain of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been sentenced to prison for bribery.
The Captain was apprehended following a joint undercover investigation by the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC) National Anti-Corruption Unit and the Independent Police Investigations Directorate (IPID).
After being found guilty of soliciting a bribe from an undercover anti-corruption agent, Captain Shange (58) of public order policing was sentenced to four years direct imprisonment last week.
Shange’s arrest and conviction were the result of an investigation launched by the RTMC’s anti-corruption unit in April 2021, according to a statement.
“The investigation was prompted by a barrage of complaints from members of the public who alleged that law enforcement officers were extorting bribes from motorists south of Gauteng.
“Anti-corruption unit members followed up on the allegations and ascertained that corruption was taking place in an operation conducted by members of the SAPS,” read the statement.
Money was exchanged, and Shange was apprehended by the joint team on the spot. He was then taken to the Yeoville police station and jailed.
After the testimony of team members was presented in the magistrate’s court on May 27, 2022, Shange was sentenced to four years direct incarceration.
“It is shameful that a ranking officer should go down in such disgraceful circumstances so close to retirement. We thank our team for demonstrating their willingness to enforce ethical conduct on the roads regardless of who is involved and what their rank is.
“All citizens are equal before the law,” said RTMC CEO Makhosini Msibi