A 39-year-old police administration clerk from Mpumalanga is set to face charges of petrol theft after allegedly being involved in a scheme involving stolen fuel from a vehicle stored as evidence at the Grootvlei South African Police Service (SAPS) station. The incident, which occurred in November 2022, has prompted legal proceedings, and the clerk is scheduled to appear in the Balfour Magistrate’s Court on February 20, 2025. Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, confirmed that the clerk is being linked to the illicit activity and will join three other co-accused in the case, including two serving SAPS members.
Among the co-accused are Sergeant John Nene, 43, and Constable Julie Manzana, 35, both of whom were arrested alongside William Mahlaba, a 51-year-old plumber from the Dipaleseng Local Municipality. While Nene and Mahlaba were granted bail after their arrests, Manzana was summoned to court, where she faces similar charges. The case has garnered significant attention, as it involves members of law enforcement allegedly engaging in a serious crime. The accused officers have made several court appearances, and their trial is scheduled for July 29 and 30, 2025. The clerk’s involvement further complicates matters, as it appears to widen the scope of the alleged theft within the police force.
This case is part of a larger trend of fuel thefts and mismanagement within governmental and public service sectors. In a similar incident, two employees from the Msunduzi Municipality were arrested in October 2024 for allegedly embezzling municipal petrol. The two employees—one permanent and the other a contract worker—had been secretly stealing fuel under the guise of using it for official municipal duties. According to municipal authorities, the employees had been illegally taking petrol for months, diverting it from its intended purpose of refueling municipal vehicles and infrastructure in need.
The theft was uncovered following a lengthy investigation into the irregular distribution of fuel, which saw unusually large quantities being dispatched to unspecified areas. The employees would claim the fuel was for essential service delivery, but further scrutiny revealed discrepancies. The municipality’s internal investigation unit tracked one of the stolen fuel vehicles to Edendale, where they observed the culprits unloading a truck full of jerry cans into a civilian van. At the scene, three other external suspects were also apprehended, further exposing the scale of the illegal activity.
Both incidents of fuel theft, one involving a public service worker and the other involving law enforcement officers, highlight growing concerns over corruption, theft, and misuse of public resources. The Msunduzi Municipality has made it clear that it will not tolerate such actions, reinforcing its zero-tolerance policy against fraud, corruption, and illegal activities within its workforce. Municipal officials have reiterated their commitment to transparency and accountability, especially when it comes to safeguarding public resources, which are essential for the functioning of local communities.
As the legal processes unfold, both the police administration clerk and the municipal employees face serious charges that could have far-reaching consequences not just for them, but for the integrity of the institutions they served. The cases also serve as a stark reminder of the importance of oversight and vigilance in the management of public assets. Authorities remain determined to hold those responsible accountable and send a strong message that corruption in any form will not be tolerated, regardless of the position or authority of the individuals involved.