The Giyani Specialised Commercial Crime Court in South Africa has sentenced a Zimbabwean man to pay a fine of R50,000 or serve five years in prison for corruption.
Felix Tatenda Chiyangwa, 37, was also fined R5,000 or given an additional one-year sentence for being an illegal immigrant. These sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of five years in prison.
Regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Limpopo, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, reported that Chiyangwa pleaded guilty to the charges. He admitted that on October 5, 2024, in Musina, two police officers requested his passport. He presented an expired passport from 2020 and attempted to bribe one of the officers with R50 to avoid arrest.
The officers accepted the bribe but later arrested Chiyangwa for corruption.
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Senior State Advocate Martin Molokwane called for a significant penalty, citing the widespread issue of corruption within the jurisdiction and its detrimental impact on public safety and trust in law enforcement. He emphasized that police officers serve as the country’s “immune system” against crime and that corruption undermines this function.
The court agreed with Molokwane’s assessment, stating the importance of sending a strong message about the consequences of corrupt actions. The NPA in Limpopo expressed satisfaction with the ruling, hoping it would deter future offenses.
Advocate Ivy Thenga, Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, condemned Chiyangwa’s actions and reiterated the NPA’s commitment to fighting corruption in all forms, commending the prosecution team for their efforts in upholding the law.
