EASTERN CAPE – Rodney Twoboy Mpapela (60), a former police Captain, who was attached to Mthatha Serious Commercial Crime Investigation, appeared in Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime court on 28 June 2021 on allegations of theft.

It is reported that on 28 February 2007 an application for an amount of R4000 was made by the members of Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team of Mthatha for the purposes of conducting an investigation.

The operation was conducted and it is alleged that the entire trap money was recovered from the target. The trap money is said to have been registered at the local police station, Tina Falls and was later booked out by the investigating officers.

On 8 July 2011, the case docket related to the exhibit in question is alleged to have been allocated to Mpapela by the then commander who has since retired. Mpapela is said to have requested the new commander to keep such cash in the safe.

On 10 March 2016, the case related to the cash in question is reported to have been withdrawn by the State as the accused was deceased.

On 15 June 2018, the commander allegedly handed over the exhibit to Mpapela to return to Finance but the said money never reached the destination.  Mpapela is said to have been adamant that the cash in question was not with him when an order was issued for the exhibit in order to close the docket since the case was withdrawn by the State.

The matter was reported to East London Serious Corruption Investigation team in 2020 for probing which culminated in the arrest of Mpapela on 28 June 2021.  Mpapela made a short appearance in Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime court and was released on R5000 bail. The matter is remanded for 15 July 2021 for legal representation.

The East London Serious Corruption Investigation team is lauded by the Provincial Head Major General Obed Ngwenya for bringing one of their own to book as no one is above the law.

Source: South African Police Service