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By Jonisayi Maromo 
8h ago
PRETORIA – Two members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), previously stationed at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), have been sentenced to years in prison by the Kempton Park Magistrates Court.
On Tuesday, the spokesperson for the National Tax Authority in Gauteng Phindi Mjonondwane said that Raesibe Melda Ndukula and Faith Makhosazane Mtambo were indicted along with a South African Airways (SAA) flight attendant, Lebogang Paulinah Tshabalala.
During the trial, Tshabalala entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the state.
“Tshabalala was sentenced to five years, a totally suspended sentence on the condition that she become a state witness and testify against the two officers. The agents were convicted on charges of contravention of the Drug Trafficking Law. [possession of drugs], defeating the administration of justice and robbery in August 2020, ”said Mjonondwane.
The policemen were sentenced Monday.
“On March 5, 2013, Tshabalala was a flight attendant on an ORTIA flight to Sao Paulo [Brazil]. The flight returned three days later, on March 8, 2013, and Tshabalala was arrested upon arrival. This is after customs officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) found her in possession of drugs. “
Officials turned the drugs over to Ndukula, who in turn stole them, along with Mtambo instead of holding them as exhibits.
Gauteng’s deputy director of public prosecutions, attorney Jacob Serepo, expressed concern about the prevalence of drug-related crimes at ORTIA.
He said the sentence was fair, considering that approximately 1,400 grams of drugs were involved and that the two were law enforcement officers.
“The defendants had abused their authority as police officers and as such acted dishonestly,” he said.
After their conviction and sentencing, the officers successfully requested permission to appeal against both.
They will return to court to request bail pending their appeal to the higher court at a date yet to be announced.
ANA
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