Eric Ellias Sibanyoni, a 47-year- old former Police Constable was sentenced to two years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of fraud, corruption and theft for the duration of the sentence's suspension.
The former police officer, who was attached to Middelburg Flying Squad, sacrificed his job after accepting gratification from motorists on the N4 Freeway around Wonderfontein. The unethical activities were brought to light by a tourist who was victimised in 2019.
Upon receiving information, a team comprised of the Hawks Nelspruit based Serious Corruption Investigation, Crime Intelligence, and Road Traffic Management Corporation was assembled.
The team conducted observation, which was later operationalised. The operation led to the arrest of the suspect four months after the complaint was registered with the authorities.
Investigation proved that Sibanyoni was responsible for intentionally benefiting from unethical behavior that is contradictory to the South African Police Service's code of conduct after receiving R100 gratification for looking the other way and not fulfilling his duty.
Due to the balance of probabilities, Sibanyoni was dismissed from the South African Police Service after an internal departmental procedure was conducted.
His criminal case was finalised on Monday, 17 February 2025, where he was sentenced to two years imprisonment at Belfast Magistrate's Court.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Nico Gerber, commended the team work displayed by different law enforcement agencies. "We will not allow criminal elements to infiltrate and shame hard-working honest members. Such individuals do not qualify to remain as members and tarnish the reputation of the South African Police Service. Although sentences are imposed at the discretion of the courts, he expressed his dissatisfaction that only a suspended sentence was handed down. Our investigators work hard to bring successful cases before court, and the sentence must send a clear message to would be corruptees or corruptors ," added the General.
