A Hawks captain and sergeant, both in their 40s, were scheduled to appear in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes on Friday on corruption charges, following their arrest in an undercover operation earlier this week.
According to an SAPS report, it is alleged that the captain phoned the complainant on a number of occasions – in July, August and September – in connection with a supposed case that the Department of Labour had opened against his company.
In August, it is alleged the captain demanded R400 000 from the complainant, who responded that he did not have the money.
The South African Government News Agency reports that the complainant alleged that on 5 September 2023, he received another call from the same official “securing their meeting in Mthatha to bring an amount of R50 000 for the docket to be destroyed and thus close the case”.
The complainant reported the matter the Hawks, who set up a sting operation and arrested the two accused after the transaction.
The duo were reportedly found in possession of R10 000.
The Eastern Cape head of the Hawks, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, expressed his satisfaction at the swift response of the joint operation.
“Such conduct by our own bring the name of the Hawks into disrepute,” he said, adding that the Hawks would continue to act without favour, fear or prejudice.
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