A police detective attached to the Thohoyandou Police Station not only lost his job but was also convicted of fraud for making a docket disappear for a measly R1,500.

Former detective constable Tshifhiwa Muvhango (41) was convicted of corruption by the Polokwane Regional Court last Monday, 12 February. The case stems from an incident on 19 March 2016 when he stole a case docket that was being investigated by his colleague. After stealing the docket, he approached the complainant who was arrested for drunken driving and demanded a R1,500 bribe to make the case disappear.

Unfortunately for Muvhango, the complainant did not play along and immediately reported the matter to the Polokwane-based Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation members. An undercover operation was conducted, and the accused was arrested immediately after receiving the money that he had demanded, Limpopo Hawks spokesperson Lt Col Matimba Maluleke said. Maluleke added that after numerous court appearances, Muvhango was released on bail until he was convicted. His case was postponed to 4 March 2024 for sentencing.

The conviction was warmly welcomed by the provincial head of the Hawks in Limpopo, Major General Gopz Govender. “We assure the public [that] corruption will not be tolerated and will be dealt with decisively without fear, favour, or prejudice,” he said.

The conviction of the crooked police officer was also welcomed by members of the community. Ms Thelma Marole, who is also the secretary of the Vhembe United Group, a non-governmental structure formed from different groups fighting crime and gender-based violence, applauded the conviction. “There are so many hardworking police officers who are doing a good job in fighting crime, but we are bothered and troubled by rotten police like Muvhango who, instead of upholding the law, have become enemies of the law. They are the ones working with criminals, leading to an upsurge of crime in our area,” she said.