Four police officers from Barberton, Mpumalanga, are facing serious charges of theft and defeating the ends of justice after they allegedly stole R1.8 million during a raid on the home of an illegal mining “paymaster” on Thursday, November 14, 2024. The officers, three men and one woman, were arrested during a joint operation conducted by the Hawks’ Nelspruit-based serious corruption and organized crime investigation units, along with provincial crime intelligence.
According to Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, the spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in Mpumalanga, the officers were conducting a search at the residence of a suspected paymaster for the so-called zama zamas—illegal miners who have been a growing concern in the region.
During the raid, the officers reportedly discovered a stash of R1,800,000 hidden inside a bag in a wardrobe at the house. Rather than documenting the find or following proper protocol, it is alleged that the officers took the money for themselves. The situation escalated further when the son of the paymaster, who was present at the time of the raid, was arrested and taken to the local police station.
However, the officers failed to register the money in the official SAPS 13 register, which is required for any property seized during a police investigation. They also neglected to open a case docket, further raising suspicions about their actions. While the son of the paymaster was locked in a police cell for over five hours, the officers allegedly drove away with the full amount of money, leaving no record of its seizure.
The situation took a turn when the provincial crime intelligence unit was alerted to the incident and arrived at the police station. They called the officers back, and upon their return, the officers produced only R200,000 of the R1.8 million they had allegedly stolen. They claimed that this smaller amount was what had been recovered during the raid. The son of the paymaster, however, opened a formal case of theft against the officers.
In response to the complaint, the Hawks swiftly arrested the four officers, who are now facing serious charges. They were detained at the Nelspruit police cells ahead of their court appearance on Friday, where they will face charges of theft and defeating the ends of justice.
The provincial head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nicholas Gerber, expressed his strong condemnation of the officers’ actions, calling them “non-compliant and corrupt.” He welcomed the quick arrests, stating that the Hawks would continue to investigate and bring all perpetrators of crime to justice “without fear or favour.”
Gerber also issued a stern warning to other police officers across the province, urging them to refrain from corrupt activities. “The Hawks will not tolerate any form of criminality, especially within our ranks,” he said. “We are committed to ensuring that officers who break the law are held accountable for their actions.”
The incident has raised concerns about the involvement of law enforcement in illegal mining activities, with zama zama operations being a growing issue in Mpumalanga and across South Africa. The province has long struggled with illegal mining syndicates, with criminals exploiting loopholes in the law and weak enforcement to plunder the country’s mineral resources.
