SAPS Captain In Court Over Alleged Travel Cash Fraud Scheme

A 53-year-old captain from the South African Police Service is expected to appear before the Pretoria North High Court on Tuesday, following his arrest over alleged fraud involving millions of rand.

The officer, attached to the Protection and Security Service (PSS), was taken into custody on Monday, April 6, by the SAPS anti-corruption unit. He faces a charge of fraud linked to alleged abuse of the police financial system.

According to national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, the arrest follows an internal probe authorised by the Division: Financial Management Services after irregular transactions were flagged on the Polfin system.

SAPS Finance System Fraud Allegations Explained

Mathe said the investigation revealed that the officer, who worked within the PSS finance section, allegedly exploited his system access to withdraw large sums of cash.

“An investigation has uncovered that he manipulated the system to book out cash for himself under the disguise that the money was meant for travelling expenses for close protectors attached to the Presidential Protection Services (PPS),” she said.

Further findings indicated that the funds never reached the intended recipients. Instead, the money was reportedly withdrawn in lump sums by the officer himself.

The case was formally registered at Sunnyside police station after what Mathe described as a lengthy investigation. This process also led to the officer’s suspension.

National Commissioner Reacts To Corruption Crackdown

National Commissioner Fannie Masemola welcomed the arrest, reiterating the organisation’s stance against corruption.

“Any member found to be engaging in corrupt activities will face the full might of the law.”

“There will be no exceptions, and no compromise. Accountability is not optional; it is a fundamental pillar of our service,” Masemola added.

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He previously commended the Financial Management Division for identifying the irregularities and assigned the SAPS anti-corruption unit to pursue the investigation.

“The SAPS takes this opportunity to assure the nation that it has stringent measures in place to ensure taxpayers’ monies are utilised in service to the nation and that the SAPS will not tolerate fraud and corruption within its ranks.”

Authorities also clarified that no close protectors assigned to the president, deputy president, ministers or deputy ministers are implicated in the matter.