The two police officers arrested at the Beitbridge border post on Monday for allegedly demanding bribe money appeared in the Musina Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, facing charges of corruption.
It is alleged that a man (complainant) from Zimbabwe was at the Beitbridge border post when Constables Nthangeni Khathutshelo (47) and Ndivhuwo Ndou (32) demanded bribe money from him. Ndou allegedly demanded R100 in exchange for his passport, while both he and Khathutshelo is accused of demanding a further R2,000 from the complainant to release his motor vehicle.
The complainant contacted the local police, alerting them that two police officers were demanding bribe money. The matter was immediately handed over to the provincial anti-corruption unit, and a trap was set for the two policemen. The money was paid, and Ndou and Khathutshelo were arrested. Marked money used by the complainant to pay the officers, as well as his vehicle registration paper, was found in their possession.
Following their arrest on Monday, the provincial police commissioner in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, said she hopes the arrest of the two will send a clear message that the SAPS in this province does not tolerate any form of criminality, regardless of who the perpetrator is.
During the two police officers' appearance in court on Wednesday, their case was postponed until 24 July for the verification of their profiles and for them to bring a possible bail application.