MEC WELCOMES THE ARREST OF FOUR POLICE OFFICERS FOR AIDING ILLEGAL MINING KINGPIN (TIGER) TO ESCAPE

MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management in North West Wessels Morweng has welcomed the arrest of four police officers following the embarrassing escape of one of the illegal miners king pin James Neo Tshoaeli known as Tiger.

Tiger who was one of the illegal miners who were rescued last as part of the government rescue plan, disappeared after resurfacing.

He was never processed just like others and even registered to the areas where other miners were subjected to after resurfacing.This prompt to investigate the possible inside job as the police officers who were stationed at the shaft were the only ones who have access to all the miners who were rescued.

MEC Morweng applauded the relentless efforts by police officers led by Acting Provincial Commissioner General Patrick Asaneng for the job well-done.

”When I got the news of Tiger’s disappearance, one thing that came to my mind was that there is possibility that some of the police officers are involved and the reason for my suspicion was that, the person who disappeared was flagged as one of the ruthless people who even some cameras showed him beating some of the people underground and some of the allegations linking him with starving others food, now how is it possible that nobody knows Tiger and why was he the last to come out? It means before he came out there might have been communications with others as part of planning and I was vindicated,“ said MEC Morweng.

Four members of the SAPS deployed to the Vala Umgodi operation in Stilfontein appeared before Stilfontein Magistrate court today and were all granted R1000.00 bail.
They will appear again on the 05th of March 2025 and they are facing charges of defeating the ends of justice and aiding prisoner to escape.
Two of the accused are Warrant Officers while the other two are sergeants.

MEC has made a call to all police officers who are still planning corruption to leave police duties and hand over the uniform because if they are going to be found doing illegal things, they will regret the day they choose police as a carrier as the duties of the police is to serve the country at large and nothing more.

Meanwhile, MEC has received information that the law enforcement officers behind the recent drug bust in Zeerust are receiving death threats.

The Zeerust drug bust also needs a proper internal investigation. I asked how possible these drugs came to land in Zeerust from the border, how did they cross there with so much drugs.

“Now I am told that our hardworking officers are receiving death threats. Who knows them? Well, only within our members who are privy to the information knows who is who. However, I am assuring our communities, that we won’t back down, we will fight until we get all in order.
We are not scared of criminals,we will fight them to the end,” said MEC Morweng.

According to the police, investigations into the circumstances that led to the escape of ‘Tiger’ who is still on the run, as well as departmental investigations against the officers are still underway.

—ENDS—