TOP COPS CHARGED IN MPUMALANGA
Nelspruit - The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant
General Thulani Ntobela welcomes the sentences handed down by the Lydenburg
Magistrates’ Court today, 08 October 2014, against six police officials for
assault with intend to cause grievous bodily harm.
The officials, Warrant Officers Thomas Motau 38, Egypt Manzini 48,
Harold Mashego 52, Vusimuzi Maphanga 44 and Constables Vuma Ngwambe and Given
Mahlako, both aged 30, found guilty for severely assaulting Oupa Eliot Malebe
aged 24 on the 29th of April 2009. The court heard that the officials suspected
Malebe of being in possession of a cellphone in custody after he detained for
alleged armed robbery case.
Malebe removed from the police holding cells, taken to one of the
offices where he assaulted and then hospitalised under police guard. He opened
a case against the police and Independent Police Investigative Directorate
investigated.
Mahlako attached to Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation
(Hawks) in Nelspruit and Manzini stationed at Lydenburg were each sentenced to
three years in prison; Motau who was the Branch Commander of Marteenshoop near
Lydenburg and Ngwambe also from Lydenburg were given two years imprisonment
while Mashego and Maphanga were sentenced to pay a R20 000 fine each.
Manzini and Maphanga have since resigned from the police in 2013 and beginning
of 2014 respectively.
The Provincial Commissioner appeals to members to abide by the
prescripts of the law while arresting and detaining suspects. “We are the
custodians of the law and we are obligated to protect and serve the inhabitants
of this country. Those of us who choose to go astray will be prosecuted hence
the sentencing of these six members,” said Lt Gen Ntobela.
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