MUSINA – Three police officers briefly appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s court last Friday and on Monday this week on charges of corruption. The first two officers, Insp Johannes Nkawane (41) and Const Maemu Davhana (25), were arrested last Thursday.

According to the police spokesperson in the Vhembe Area, Supt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi, it is alleged that Nkawane and Davhana were busy searching immigrants from the Zimbabwean side of the Beitbridge border post when they saw a woman carrying a large parcel.

When they searched her, it was discovered that she was carrying a large quantity of illegal cigarettes from Zimbabwe. Instead of bringing her to book, Nkawane and Davhana allegedly allowed the woman to cross the border, on condition that she would pay a bribe of R1 000.

According to the police statement, the two officers then took the woman to a certain place along the Musina-to-Weipe road. The statement further indicates that the woman allegedly told the officers that she did not have enough cash for the bribe. She told them that all she had was R600. It is further alleged that, instead of letting the woman to go, the officers ordered her to go back to Musina town and make sure she brought the remaining R400. Later on, the woman came back with the remainder of the money.

The information was later leaked to the police and the two were arrested the following day. They briefly appeared in court last Friday, when the case was postponed until July 21. Nkawane was released on R5 000 bail while Davhana parted with an amount of R1 000 for bail.

Another police inspector, who is stationed at the border post, Insp Tshifhiwa Netshifhefhe, also appeared in the same court on Monday this week on a similar charge. He was arrested last Saturday evening after allegedly letting an illegal immigrant cross the border. The immigrant allegedly paid him a bribe of R150. After paying the bribe, the woman told the police the whole story and Netshifhefhe was arrested moments thereafter. He was released on R1 000 bail and the case was postponed to a later date.