Police Officer Accused of Taking Bribes in Mine Raid That Caused Fatal Crash

The Bribery Evidence: Text Messages and Cash

A high-ranking police officer, Captain Itumeleng Phakedi, is accused of taking bribes from a mine director. The accusations come from private messages and a bank payment receipt.

The Sunday Times newspaper says it saw WhatsApp chats between Capt Phakedi and Johan de Witt, a director of Mamokebe Colliery. The messages include a proof of payment from de Witt to Phakedi. Phakedi thanked de Witt for the “packages.”

De Witt seemed worried about getting caught. In one message he asked if the bank accounts were hidden from police and joked about not ending up in front of the Madlanga commission, a government inquiry looking into police corruption.

Who’s Who in This Story?

The People Involved

• Capt Itumeleng Phakedi: A police officer with the Gauteng organised crime unit. He is the main person accused.
• Johan de Witt: A director of Mamokebe Colliery. He is accused of bribing the officer.
• Green Lands Investments: The company that says it legally runs the Dirkiesdorp coal mine. It hired a forensic investigator to look into the police raid.
• Stanley Mphahlele: A co-director with de Witt at Mamokebe Colliery.

The Raid and the Tragic Crash

What Happened That Night?

On October 24, Capt Phakedi led a large group of armed police to the Dirkiesdorp coal mine. They removed heavy mining trucks and equipment. The raid was filmed. In the video, Phakedi tells a mine manager they are there to stop mining because the mine’s owners gave permission.

The police did not have a search warrant at the time. They only applied for one three days later.

A forensic investigator, Paul O’Sullivan, says this was basically an armed robbery by police. He states that during the removal, one of the big mining trucks broke down on a dark road at night. It had no lights or warning signs.

A car then drove into the back of the stationary truck. Two people in the car died instantly.

The Bigger Fight Over the Mine

This police raid didn’t happen in a vacuum. Two companies are fighting a major legal battle over who owns the right to mine coal at Dirkiesdorp.

• Mamokebe Colliery (de Witt and Mphahlele) vs.
• Green Lands Investments (the other claimant).

Green Lands believes the police raid was an illegal attempt to help Mamokebe Colliery take over the mine. They accuse police and government officials of working together to stop their mining operations.

Investigations and Official Responses

What Are the Authorities Saying?

The forensic investigator, Paul O’Sullivan, has officially reported the case to the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac). He accused Phakedi of police corruption, fraud, and defeating the ends of justice.

When asked for comment, Capt Phakedi told the newspaper to speak to the police spokesperson. The spokesperson, Brig Donald Mdhluli, said the case is already in court (“sub judice”) and that the police cannot comment. He confirmed that several police cases were registered at the Dirkiesdorp police station about the incident.

Johan de Witt did not respond to requests for comment.

Officials from the provincial police commissioner’s office said they were investigating a complaint from Green Lands’ attorney about police abusing their power and state resources.

Why This Matters

This story isn’t just about a fight between companies. It’s about police officers accused of using their power for money, leading to a violent raid without a warrant, and a tragic, preventable crash that killed two people.

It shows how alleged corruption can have deadly real-world consequences. It also raises big questions: Can the police be trusted to act impartially? What happens when those meant to protect us are accused of breaking the law? The official investigations and court cases will need to answer these questions.