Two Limpopo police officers sentenced for assaulting colleagues

Two police officers of the Limpopo provincial task team have been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of R12,000 each for assaulting two fellow officers in January 2024.

Sgt Sekona Alpheus Kobe, 47, and Sgt Mhlupheki William Vilakazi, 54, were sentenced by the Nebo magistrate’s court after being found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson Lizzy Suping said the case stemmed from an incident on January 22 2024 when a group of police officers stopped a vehicle driven by Sgt Gadifele Mabotja on Monsterlus Road, in the Sekhukhune district.

Mabotja and Sgt Makgato Mafona, who was a passenger in the vehicle, were both off duty at the time. According to the case details, the officers surrounded the vehicle, pointed their firearms at the two occupants and instructed them to get out. Mabotja and Mafona complied with the instructions.

The two officers were then allegedly assaulted by members of the group without any apparent reason.

After the incident, Mabotja and Mafona opened a case of assault and identified Kobe and Vilakazi as among the officers involved in the alleged attack.

Kobe and Vilakazi were subsequently charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. They were convicted and sentenced.

“Half of the sentence was wholly suspended for three years on condition that they are not convicted of a similar offence during the suspension period,” said Suping.

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