A senior member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been arrested in Mpumalanga following an unusual alleged shoplifting incident at a supermarket in Barberton, raising serious concerns about police conduct and accountability.
According to provincial SAPS spokesperson Captain Mpho Nonyane-Mpe, the incident occurred on the evening of Saturday, 31 January, at around 18:30, when store security was alerted to a suspected theft.
“It is reported that a security officer … received information from the store’s control room, indicating that a male customer had allegedly added extra bananas into a plastic bag after the item had already been weighed and priced at the pay point,” Captain Mpho said. After the customer was approached and the fruit was re-weighed, the difference in weight amounted to about R43.80, she added.
Once detained, it was discovered that the suspect was a 59-year-old SAPS officer, who was subsequently arrested and charged with shoplifting. The matter was formally reported to police and a case docket was opened. Investigations are ongoing, with internal SAPS disciplinary processes expected to run alongside the criminal proceedings.
The officer is expected to appear before the Barberton Magistrate’s Court today, although the exact time of the appearance had not been confirmed at the time of reporting.
According to The Citizen, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, acting provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, questioned the conduct on ethical grounds, insisting that “such misconduct could not be tolerated.” Zeph emphasised that actions like these “dented the image of the police” and stressed that “the law would take its course without fear or favour.”
The embarrassing incident forms part of a broader conversation around accountability within law enforcement. Past cases, including that of a former Cape Town officer dismissed for attempted grocery theft, highlight how even members of the police can face serious repercussions for alleged criminal actions.
SAPS has reiterated that all members are subject to the same legal and disciplinary standards as any other citizen, and that allegations of misconduct will be thoroughly investigated.
First published by African Insider
Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
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