Corruption-accused Tshwane Metro Police officers accosts Private Prosecution Unit member
19 June 2023
In a bizarre development, Tshwane Metro Police Officers accused in corruption-related charges accosted a member of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit because they objected to being filmed. The incident happened at the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Thursday 15 June after Johnson Lebombo, Aubrey Phalane and Makgoba Raboshacia made a brief appearance.
The trio face charges of extortion, robbery, kidnapping and intimidation, and are before court on five other cases, as well as being investigated for several more. Despite this, they remain on duty as serving Tshwane Metro Police officers.
On Thursday, as Lebombo and Phalane left the courtroom, the unit’s spokesperson Barry Bateman recorded the exit. What followed was an altercation where the police officers attempted to rob Bateman of his phone, manhandled him and threatened him with arrest.
The conduct of the officers is unsurprising. “If this is the conduct of accused policemen, just imagine the bravado of police officers when they are in uniform, armed and driving with blue lights,” said Bateman.