The career of a South African Police Service (SAPS) captain has ended prematurely after he was jailed for bribery following his arrest during a joint undercover operation by the National Anti-Corruption Unit of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and members from the Independent Police Investigations Directorate (IPID).
Captain Shange (58) from public order policing was sentenced to four years direct imprisonment last week after he was found guilty of soliciting a bribe from an under-cover anti-corruption agent.
His arrest and conviction followed an investigation initiated by the RTMC's anti-corruption unit in April 2021. The investigation was prompted by a barrage of complaints from members of the public who alleged that law enforcement officers were extorting bribes from motorists south of Gauteng.
Anti-corruption unit members followed up on the allegations and ascertained that corruption was taking place in an operation conducted by members of the SAPS.
An undercover agent was assigned and proceeded to a roadblock conducted by members of the SAPS in Observatory, Johannesburg, for a traffic violation. The officer was stopped by Captain Shange who demanded a bribe from the undercover agent for a traffic violation.
Money exchanged hands and Shange was arrested on the scene by the joint team. He was then detained at Yeoville police cells.
On the 27th of May 2022, the former Captain (Shange) was sentenced to four (4) years direct imprisonment after the testimonies of our team members were presented in the magistrate court.
"It is shameful that a ranking officer should go down in such disgraceful circumstances so close to retirement. We thank our team for demonstrating their willingness to enforce ethical conduct on the roads regardless of who is involved and what their rank is. All citizens are equal before the law," said RTMC CEO Makhosini Msibi.
Members of the public are called upon to assist the RTMC to fight corruption on the roads by emailing their complaints to ntacu@rtmc.co.za.
Issued by RTCM
