Police officer caught stripping an impounded vehicle to replace with his own parts

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The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena has welcomed the arrest of a police Constable and two civilians for theft.

North West Police Spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone says that Constable Meshack Masiza and his two co-accused Motlamedi Lekalake (24) and Jabufor Ngwa (39) were on Sunday afternoon, 19 September 2021, arrested in Rooigrond outside Mahikeng for allegedly stripping an impounded vehicle.

“Constable allegedly lied to the Security Officer about him being officially on duty and entered the Vehicle Safeguarding Section (VSS) pound in Rooigrond, accompanied by two males driving in a vehicle.”

“The trio proceeded to an impounded vehicle, then removed a front bumper and replaced it with the one from their vehicle. They allegedly took the impounded vehicle’s bumper and fit it in their vehicle. Unbeknown to the accused, the Security Officer had already informed the police who pounced on the trio before they could leave the pound.”

Mokgwabone added that the 26 years old officer together with Lekalake and Nkga made their first appearance at the Molopo Magistrates’ Court in Mmabatho on Tuesday, 21 September 2021.

Nkga was left in police custody pending verification of his residence status while Masiza and Lekalake were granted R500.00 bail each.

They are set to appear again in court on September 28.

The Provincial Commissioner lauded the security guard for the vigilance that led to the arrest, which he said will certainly sound a warning to all SAPS employees who are engaged in criminal activities that if caught, will have to face the consequences including internal disciplinary processes.

Investigation into the matter continues.