PHALABORWA SAPS MEMBERS SLAPPED WITH SUSPENDED SENTENCES FOLLOWING A CONVICTION OF THEFT CHARGE

PHALABORWA SAPS MEMBERS SLAPPED WITH SUSPENDED SENTENCES FOLLOWING A CONVICTION OF THEFT CHARGE

POLOKWANE: The Phalaborwa District Court has handed down suspended sentences to the two former members of the South African Police Service in Phalaborwa, Warrant Officer Chankie Nkuna (51) and Sergeant Nurse Tsakani Khosa (44) after they pleaded guilty to theft charges.

On 01 February 2024, the duo was found to have sold seized copper exhibits at a local Metals in Phalaborwa for R20,732.60 but only deposited R3,162.60 into the finance department.

Sergeant Khosa also made an unauthorized sale of the exhibits the following week on 09 February 2024 receiving R9,125.80 which she also failed to deposit into the stipulated police finance account and the total amount not deposited was R24,482.99.

The matter was referred to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit for investigation until the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided to charge them.

They were charged and summoned to appear in court facing theft of copper on 24 February 2024.

The accused made numerous court appearances until they entered into a Plea and Sentence Agreement on Tuesday 24 March 2026.

They were handed the sentences as follows:

1. Warrant Officer Chankie Nkuna – 18 months imprisonment suspended for five (5) years.
2. Sergeant Nurse Khosa – 3 years imprisonment suspended for 5 years.

Both the accused were also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103(1) of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.

Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe stated that nobody is above the law and corrupt officers will face consequences.

“As the police, we will not tolerate any form of corruption and will continue to work very hard to root out corruption within our ranks as action will be taken against those who bring the SAPS into disrepute,” she said.