Former police sergeant sentenced to five years for R1 000 bribe

A former police sergeant in Limpopo, Rodney Humbulani Mushidzi (46), has been sentenced to five years of direct imprisonment for corruption after demanding a R1 000 bribe to withdraw a case of reckless and negligent driving.

According to the police, the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit received a complaint from a victim whose father was approached by Mushidzi.

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The sergeant allegedly demanded R1 000 in exchange for helping to withdraw a case of reckless and negligent driving against the man’s sons in Bolobedu, Limpopo on 23 January 2024.

Following the report, an inquiry was opened, and on 24 January 2024, an undercover operation was authorised in terms of Section 252(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act. Mushidzi was arrested shortly after receiving the R1 000 bribe from the complainant.

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After multiple court appearances, the Tzaneen Regional Court convicted him of corruption and handed down a five-year direct imprisonment sentence on Tuesday, 11 November 2025.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, welcomed the outcome, saying the sentence reflects the seriousness with which the justice system views corruption within the ranks of the police service.

“SAPS is not a home for those who are hell-bent on breaking the law,” said Hadebe. “We remain committed to rooting out any form of misconduct to maintain public trust in our organisation.”