Officer already in custody faces further charges over SAPS fleet card

A former police constable already in custody on separate stock theft charges appeared in court on Thursday for allegedly misusing a South African Police Service (SAPS) fleet card for personal transactions worth about R8,000.

Bafo Siyabonga Cindi, who was dismissed from the SAPS in May, appeared in the Standerton magistrate’s court facing fraud and theft charges.

This is after his arrest by the Hawks on Thursday at Ermelo Correctional Centre, where he is being detained pending trial in separate stock theft cases registered in Perdekop and Greylingstad.

According to the Hawks, the investigation into the alleged misuse of state funds began in 2024 after the matter was reported by the Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit in Standerton.

Cindi was attached to the unit as an investigating officer at the time of the alleged offences.

The Hawks’ Secunda Serious Corruption Investigation investigated the matter before submitting the case docket to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

An application for a warrant of arrest was subsequently authorised. Hawks members executed the warrant at the correctional centre on Thursday.

Cindi had previously been denied bail in the separate stock theft cases in which he is awaiting trial.

The acting provincial head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Brig Bruce Davenport, said the arrest demonstrated the unit’s commitment to holding law enforcement officials accountable for alleged corruption and the misuse of state resources.

“No uniform, badge or rank places anyone above the law. Those who abuse their authority and misuse state resources for personal enrichment will face the full might of the law,” Davenport said.

He said the Hawks in Mpumalanga remained committed to protecting the integrity of the criminal justice system and restoring public confidence through action against corruption.

The matter was postponed to November 5 to allow Cindi time to secure legal representation.