Task Team Arrests 8 Senior Police Officers, Including Former General

In a statement today the police said the arrests by the Anti-Corruption Task Team – backed by a prosecution team of the National Prosecuting Authority under Hermione Cronje – related to multiple charges, including fraud, corruption, theft and money laundering.

Police spokesman Vish Naidoo said the team had been conducting a widespread intensive investigation into tender fraud related to the marking of police vehicles. During these investigations, nine members of the SAPS, including senior officers, private company directors and employees were alleged to have been involved in an elaborate act to defraud the State.

Those arrested were:

Retired Lieutenant General Ramahlapi Johannes Mokwena, 60 years old, (Former Divisional Commissioner: Supply Chain Management, Pretoria Head Office), arrested in Rethabile;

– Brigadier James Ramanjalum, 55, (Former Section Head Procurement) arrested in Rooihuiskraal;

– Brigadier Jabez Naidoo, 49, (Station Commander: Point Police Station, KZN and Former SCM Head, Western Cape) arrested in Durban;

– Brigadier Lesetja David Mogotlane, 57, (Section Head: Mechanical Services) arrested in Soshanguwe;

– Colonel Thomas Dumisani Marima, 50, (Section Commander: Vehicles and Tactical Equipment);

– Lieutenant Colonel Veeran Naipal, 47, (Vehicle Support: Pretoria Central Garage);

– Lieutenant Colonel Alpheus Nkosibanke Makhetha, 46, (Technical Expert: Vehicle Fleet);

– Admin Clerk Jacoba Magadela Havenga, 49, (Chief Prov Clerk: New Vehicle Store, WC);

– SAC Marcell Duan Marney,33, (Chief Provisioning Clerk to Brigadier Ramanjalum);

– Krishna Chetty, 62, arrested in Centurion;

– Kishene Chetty, 38, arrested in Centurion;

– Lorrette Joubert, 44, (Owner of Vatika Trading), arrested in Mountain View, Pretoria;

– Maricha Joubert, 24, arrested in Mountain View, Pretoria;

– Kumarasen Prithviraj (owner of Kgotho) arrested in Mountain View, Pretoria, and

– Volan Prithviraj (son of Kumarasen) arrested in Pretoria.

The pending arrest of a Lieutenant Colonel will bring the total to 10 the number of police officers arrested, said Naidoo.

The suspects are expected to appear in court/s yet to be determined either today or tomorrow.

“We cannot rule out the possibility of more arrests being effected in this matter,” said Sitole, adding that corruption within SAPS will neither be condoned nor tolerated.

– SANews.gov