FREE STATE – A man who terrorised the community of Bethlehem around 2019 by promising residents RDP houses has been sentenced. Zithobile Hezeckiel Tshabalala (46) was found guilty and sentenced by the Bethlehem Magistrates’ Court on 15 June 2023. He was facing a charge of fraud.

Members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks’) Serious Corruption Investigation Unit based in Bethlehem worked without ceasing to ensure that justice is served.

The convicted fraudster was first arrested in July 2019 after information was received about a man masquerading as a local councillor and promising residents RDP houses at a cost of R5 000. A secret Hawks operation saw him arrested and thrown behind bars. He was later released on bail only to flout set conditions by failing to present himself before court. As a result, he was rearrested in 2022 and jailed until his sentencing.

Free State Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Major General Mokgadi Bokaba would like to remind citizens about their patriotic responsibility to report crime. “We must not fuel corruption and other crimes by participating in the commission thereof. Instead, we must approach authorities and report crime. Do not be afraid to blow the whistle on crime,” she urged.

Source: South African Police Service