Two police officers under a year-long investigation for copper theft from their station now charged  

TWO police officers stationed at Phalaborwa in Limpopo who were under investigation for theft of exhibits containing copper in February last year have now been charged.

According to police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the two officers were authorised to dispose of the exhibits which were confiscated during police operations in and around Phalaborwa.

“Information suggests that both members booked out the exhibits and proceeded to the metal shop in Phalaborwa. Upon arrival, they sold the exhibits in five separate transactions whereby they received cash money.

“Upon arrival at the station, the only money deposited at Finance was from one of them, being only a quarter of the amount instead of the whole amount as received from the dealer.

“It is further alleged that on 2024-02-09, the female police official went back to a local scrap metals and sold the other copper without authorization, and she received an undisclosed amount of cash from the dealer. The money was never deposited at the SAPS finance,” Ledwaba said.

He said a case was opened and transferred to the provincial anti-corruption unit for further investigations.

The two police officers are now charged with theft and are due to appear in the Phalaborwa magistrate court on 24 February 2025.