Samuel Bassie Mahlangu, a retired warrant officer, appeared before the Delmas Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, facing serious charges of defeating the ends of justice and tampering with evidence. The case stems from allegations that Mahlangu, 60, disposed of gold-bearing materials that were crucial evidence in an illegal mining investigation.
According to Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, the incident dates back to August 1, 2023, when members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and National Crime Intelligence conducted an operation targeting illegal mining activities. During this operation, gold-bearing materials were seized and properly documented in the SAPS 13 exhibits register at Delmas SAPS. Mahlangu, who was responsible for the custody of the exhibits, reportedly signed for them.
The situation escalated when, on August 2, 2023, a member of National Crime Intelligence returned to the police station to retrieve the exhibits. At that time, Mahlangu allegedly claimed ignorance, stating that he was unaware the items were exhibits. Instead of following the proper procedure for disposal, which requires a formal entry in the disposal order, Mahlangu reportedly admitted to discarding the materials in a garbage bin located behind the police station.
Captain Sekgotodi emphasised the severity of the allegations, stating, “He further showed [investigators] where he had dumped the exhibit, in a bin used for garbage at the back of the police station without a disposal order entry made.”
The case against Mahlangu was further pursued by the Serious Corruption Investigation unit based in Middelburg, which issued him with a J175 notice on May 14, 2024, following an extensive probe into the incident. This led to Mahlangu’s appearance in court on June 18, 2024.
During the court proceedings, Mahlangu’s legal team requested a postponement to June 27, 2024, to allow for additional investigation and preparation of the case. The postponement indicates the complexity of the matter and the ongoing efforts to gather evidence and testimonies relevant to the charges levelled against the retired officer.
The allegations against Mahlangu highlight the critical importance of proper handling and documentation of evidence in criminal investigations.
