Ex-Limpopo Police Constable Sentenced For Using Fake Matric Certificate

A former Limpopo police constable who used a fake matric certificate to secure a position in the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been handed a suspended sentence after being found guilty of fraud.

The Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court convicted 43-year-old Eric Nyadzani Ravhura following an investigation by the SAPS Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit.

The probe revealed that Ravhura had submitted a fraudulent Grade 12 certificate when applying for the 2020 police trainee intake.

Constable’s Fake Matric Fraud Uncovered by SAQA Verification

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said Ravhura had been serving as a reservist when he applied for permanent enlistment in 2019.

He was accepted based on the falsified qualification, completed police training, and was appointed as a constable at Alldays Police Station.

However, in June 2021, a South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) verification process exposed the fraud. The discovery triggered an internal investigation, which found that the SAPS had incurred financial losses covering Ravhura’s training and salary.

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The matter was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who authorised Ravhura’s arrest. He was convicted on 27 October 2025, and on Monday, sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a R30,000 fine, wholly suspended for five years on condition that he does not reoffend. Ravhura was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

SAPS: ‘Integrity and Honesty Are Non-Negotiable’

Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Jan Scheepers welcomed the sentence, reiterating the police service’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption and dishonesty.

“Integrity and honesty are non-negotiable qualities within the South African Police Service,” Scheepers said. “Those who join the SAPS must do so with honesty, as the work we do demands public trust.”

The case underscores the SAPS’s ongoing commitment to rooting out fraud and misconduct within its ranks.

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