The Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court's conviction of a former prosecutor, Ratshilumela Leonard Makhado (50), of corruption should serve as a warning to others that "no one is above the law". This is according to Mr Nicholas Netshiomvani, who assisted the police in 2020 in arresting Makhado.
But Netshiomvani was concerned at the same time that a relatively junior person was prosecuted, while the senior people he believes may also have been involved in the crimes are still working in the department.
Ratshilumela Makhado was apprehended in May 2020 during an undercover operation by the Limpopo Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation team while he was receiving a bribe amounting to R6 000 to make a case "disappear". He told Netshiomvani, whose son was charged with reckless and negligent driving, that he would sort the matter out if he paid the bribe.
Makhado was arrested and charged with two counts of corruption, but the list of charges grew rapidly. Four counts of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder were later brought against him when he allegedly tried to kill the witnesses by setting their house on fire. When he failed to appear before the Sibasa Regional Court in June 2021, a charge of defeating the ends of justice was also added.
Netshiomvani, who is also a provincial executive committee member of the South African Civic Organization (SANCO), spoke to the media for the first time since the case started three years ago. He said that, when Makhado demanded the bribe, he had indicated that he was not dealing alone but with seniors as well, and that was the reason why he needed such a large amount of money, so that everyone could get a cut.
"Why are those seniors not implicated with him?" Netshiomvani wanted to know. He believes that, unless the Thohoyandou Magistrate Court's senior officers involved in this kind of practice are transferred to other places, the corruption will continue.
Makhado was convicted after he pleaded guilty to corruption during his appearance on Monday, 10 October 2022. In his plea, he submitted that he had accepted gratification of R6 000 with the intention to destroy the reckless-and-negligent-driving docket against the minor child, instead of referring the case to the Child Justice Court.
The spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in Limpopo, Ms Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, said they condemned the former prosecutor's behaviour. "It is disappointing that someone in his position could commit such crimes. We further commend the good work of the police officers and the prosecutor who acted accordingly to ensure that justice is served, even against one of our own, when it comes into conflict with the law," she said.
Makhado remains in custody while awaiting sentencing on 21 November 2022.
His co-accused in the attempted-murder case, Mbofholowo Freedom Tshikovhele, was arrested on 29 March this year.