Former police captain Susanna Jacoba Muller appeared before the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning to face serious charges, including corruption. Muller, who previously worked as an investigator with the West Rand Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) unit in Gauteng, had her case postponed until January 28, when she is expected to have legal representation.
The charges against Muller stem from two separate criminal cases, both of which involve corruption, theft, and obstructing justice. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks, served Muller with a summons on December 24, 2023, following a detailed investigation into her actions. According to Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale, the first case is linked to incidents in May 2023 at the Honeydew and Krugersdorp police stations, where several irregularities were uncovered during Muller’s tenure as an investigator.
One of the main allegations centers around a 2020 case involving suspects connected to cash-in-transit heists. Muller, as the lead investigator, was responsible for a number of crucial exhibits, including laptops, tablets, a wallet, and R30,000 in cash, all of which have gone missing. This led to a case being opened for theft and obstruction of justice.
In a separate, more personal case, Muller is accused of manipulating a suspect, Oupa Moleleki, into a romantic relationship. The Hawks allege that Muller used this relationship to extract information regarding cash-in-transit crimes and, in return, received R10,000, which was deposited into her father’s bank account. The money was later handed over to Muller’s commanders when the allegations came to light, and the money was secured as evidence.
Further investigations revealed additional misconduct, including Muller allegedly providing information to an accused in another case and offering assistance with bail. Following the uncovering of these incidents, Muller chose to resign from the South African Police Service (SAPS). The Hawks have since added charges of money laundering and further corruption to their list of allegations, which are currently under consideration by the National Prosecuting Authority.
The developments in Muller’s case have been met with strong condemnation by the Hawks, and the national head of the unit, Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya, has expressed his firm stance against corruption within law enforcement. Lebeya issued a stern warning, stating that the Hawks have a zero-tolerance policy for any criminal activities among their officers and would take decisive action against those who abuse their position of trust.
“Corruption undermines the rule of law and the very foundations of our justice system,” Lebeya said. “It erodes public trust and compromises the safety and security of our communities.” He emphasized that the DPCI is committed to rooting out corruption at every level and holding individuals accountable, regardless of their rank or position within law enforcement. The case serves as a reminder of the critical importance of integrity and transparency in all areas of the justice system.
