Four police officers from Barberton, accused of stealing R1.8 million during a raid on a zama zama paymaster’s house, have been granted bail, sparking outrage among South Africans. The officers—Danisile Mahlangu (47), Mandla Ndlovu (49), Bongani Dlamini (40), and Doctor Zulu (42)—were arrested for theft and defeating the ends of justice after allegedly taking the money and unlawfully detaining the paymaster’s son for five hours without charge.
Despite the serious nature of the crime, the four officers were released on bail of only R5,000 each. The case has been postponed to January 29, 2025, with strict bail conditions, including restrictions on interfering with the investigation and witnesses, staying within the Barberton area, and surrendering their passports.
However, the relatively low bail amount has sparked anger among South Africans, who feel the justice system is not taking the crime seriously enough. Social media users have voiced their displeasure, with some commenting on the disparity between the low bail and the magnitude of the crime. One user, @Vincent59257602, questioned, “Has anyone checked if Thabo Bester is still behind bars? Maybe he is home for the holidays.” Another user, @phillibecks, expressed disbelief: “They looted R1.8 million and bail is R5,000. This country’s justice system is the worst in the whole world.”
Many have also called for the officers to be dismissed immediately, with @TransparencySA stating, “The bail sum is too low,” and @LeslyLondon adding, “Let them be dismissed with immediate effect. We cannot afford to be served by corrupt cops who are stealing from people.”
The public reaction highlights a growing frustration with perceived leniency in the legal system, especially when it comes to high-profile cases involving law enforcement officials.
