POLOKWANE- In terms of the South African Police Service Code of Conduct, members are expected to act impartially, courteously, honestly, respectfully, transparently and in an accountable manner. But this was not the case with the former Limpopo Police detective, Thabo Ezekiel Maputla (55) who was sentenced to six years direct imprisonment for corruption by the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 20 February 2023.

On 25 August 2014, Maputla who was a detective Warrant Officer at SAPS-Westerburg, summoned four suspects to the police station and informed them that he is the investigating a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm against them.

When the suspects arrived at Westernburg police station, Maputla told them they were under arrest, but they can pay R500 each for bail.

The suspects in the case paid a total of R2000-00 to Maputla while they were still kept in police holding cells. On the very same day, Maputla booked out one of the suspects for Investigation and they went to his house where he demanded a further R2500-00 for bail from his wife. The money was paid to Maputla and they went back to Westernburg police station.

When they arrived at the station, Maputla released all the four suspects and issued them with bail receipts of R500 each.

The matter was reported to the Hawks and Maputla was arrested after conducting an intensive investigation. The case against Maputla was investigated by the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation. On 1 February 2023, the court found Maputla guilty for corruption.

Maputla is currently serving six years jail term on another unrelated case of corruption. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo Province, Major General Gopz Govender has welcomed the sentence imposed on the accused. “Let this be a deterrent to other police personnel who want to venture down the road of criminality, they will suffer the same consequences".

Source: South African Police Service