Five officers accused of demanding R100,000 bribe from businessman appear in court

Five sergeants attached have appeared in court on charges of corruption and extortion.

Five police sergeants attached to the Vanderbijlpark SAPS Task Team have appeared in court on charges of corruption and extortion after they allegedly demanded a R100,000 bribe from a local business owner in exchange for not making an arrest.

The accused are Sgt Johannes Thakhisi, 45, Sgt Ntombeko Seya, 44, Sgt Mpho Molatedi, 39, Sgt Nhlanhla Sithole, 42, and Sgt Tlokotsi Kgany, 36.

The group appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Regional Court on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, facing charges of corruption and extortion.

The spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Granville Meyer, said the officers made their first court appearance following an investigation by the Hawks' Vaal Serious Corruption Investigation unit into an incident that allegedly took place on October 27, 2024.