Published – 13:55, December 17, 2025
By Thabelo Ramulifho
Roodepoort, Gauteng — Five members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), including a Lieutenant Colonel, three Sergeants, and a Constable, appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrates Court today on charges of theft and defeating the ends of justice. The arrests, executed on December 17, 2025, follow a year-long investigation into allegations of corruption involving the unlawful seizure and theft of legally held cigarettes.The investigation by the Gauteng Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit focused on an incident that occurred on January 20, 2025.
The five officers allegedly entered a complainant’s residence, found 75 boxes of cigarettes, and then threatened the owner with arrest unless a bribe of R100,000 was paid.When the complainant refused the demand, he was arrested and detained at Lenasia SAPS for the possession of what the officers claimed were illicit cigarettes.The case against the officers began to unravel after the complainant’s release. Upon attempting to retrieve his property from the Lenasia SAPS, it was discovered that only 53 of the 75 boxes had been formally registered on the SAPS 13 inventory, with 22 boxes unaccounted for.
Further investigation, which included obtaining a report from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), confirmed that the cigarettes were, in fact, legal, directly contradicting the basis for the complainant’s arrest.The docket was subsequently referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who decided to proceed with the prosecution of the five officers.
Following the issue of an arrest warrant, the officers were taken into custody.The five accused appeared in court and the matter has been remanded to December 19, 2025, for a formal bail application. The case underscores the commitment of the Anti-Corruption Unit to addressing internal criminality and maintaining the integrity of the police service.
This case is the latest in a series of high-profile arrests that have highlighted the ongoing challenge of corruption within the South African Police Service. Specialized units, such as the Gauteng Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit and the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), have recently secured the arrests of numerous officers across the country on charges ranging from extortion and theft to kidnapping and fraud.
For instance, earlier this year, six Anti-Gang Unit officers were remanded in custody on serious criminal charges, and multiple other stings have seen groups of up to ten officers arrested at a time. These operations underscore a concerted effort by law enforcement agencies to address internal criminality and restore public trust in the police service.
