There had been numerous complaints from the community about members who are frequently involved in drug dealings.
An Ekurhuleni police officer was arrested after being caught dealing in dagga in the Mpumalanga town of Kriel, south of Witbank.
Mpumalanga police boss Lieutenant-General Mondli Zuma applauded the arrest of Constable Solomon Senoamadi stationed at Tsakane police station, east of Johannesburg, on Sunday 19 April 2020.
Senoamadi was arrested with 4 other suspects in Kriel.
He was driving a state car on the midday of Sunday 19 April 2020, wearing his police uniform.
“The police in Kriel then received information about a Gauteng marked vehicle which had five occupants, including the driver who was wearing a police uniform. Upon stopping the said vehicle, the driver produced his police ID card,” police spokesman Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said.
Hlathi said the Kriel officers wanted to find out more when they asked to search the vehicle.
“Police found sixteen sealed bags of dagga which were stashed at the back of the vehicle. They have an estimated street value of R500 000,” said Hlathi.
The 38-year-old Senoamadi and the other 4 occupants in the vehicle, 34-year-old Nhlakanipho Mtshali, 62-year-old Hezekiah Bhembe, Thabo Gama (25) and Nkululeko Thabethe (25) are now arrested.
They were charged with possession of dagga and defeating the ends of justice.
Zuma welcomed the arrest of the five. “This vehicle was supposed to have been utilised for the benefit of the community at the local station where it has been allocated to but instead it was used illegally to transport illicit stuff.
“Disciplinary action will be taken against the member or anyone found to be on the wrong side of the law,” Zuma said.
They appeared at the Kriel Magistrates Court on Monday 20 April. They were granted R2000 bail each and will return to court on 23 April 2020.
(edited by MLM)
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