Cops Gone Rogue? Four Mpumalanga Officers Accused of Kidnapping and Robbing Foreign National At Roadside Stop

Four Mpumalanga police officers have appeared in the Evander Magistrate’s Court in connection with the alleged kidnapping and robbery of a foreign national during a roadside stop earlier this year.

The Hawks’ Secunda-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit ensured their appearance on Monday, following months of probing a January 2025 incident near the N17 toll plaza.

Victim Claims Cash, Phones and Car Parts Were Taken

According to the Hawks, the officers allegedly stopped a truck travelling from Piet Retief to Springs. The truck driver had given a foreign national a lift when the officers conducted their search.

During the stop, the officers allegedly took a catalytic converter, two cellphones, and R3,500 in cash, all belonging to the victim. Both the truck driver and the victim were then allegedly forced into separate police vehicles.

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Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi explained how the events unfolded after the “arrest”.

“The victim alleged that he was dropped off in a secluded, dark area. He realised that there were lights in the distance. When trying to get to the lights, he realised that he was already on Delmas main road to Leslie.

He hitchhiked a lift with another truck that dropped him off at Leslie police station, where he registered a case,” Nkosi said.

Four Officers Linked and Summoned to Court

After what the Hawks described as a “professional investigation”, four officers were identified and ordered to appear in court:

• Constable Thabo Mnisi, 23
• Sergeant Siyabonga Mbonani, 32
• Sergeant Modishe Mokabane, 46
• Constable Sifiso Mazibuko, 41

The case was postponed to 2 February 2026.

Mpumalanga Hawks head, Major General Nico Gerber, welcomed the arrests, saying: “No one is above the law. Our members should answer for their unlawful conduct. We will always perform our investigation without fear or favour, and there is no place for corrupt officials in the police.”

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