Bail for two cops in Queenstown bust

TWO of the police officials arrested in Queenstown on Tuesday for allegedly being paid by drug dealers to allow safe passage of their narcotics through the town, were released on R500 bail yesterday.

The remaining five will stay behind bars until next week.

Monwabisi Dyongo, 49, Dalithemba Maheshana, 46, Andiswa Jikumlambo, 40, Siyanda Gunuza, 37, Sipho Nene, 34, Mzimkhulu Ndevu, 39, and Makgotso Kesa, 45, appeared in the Queenstown Magistrate’s Court yesterday and were formally charged with corruption.

The group was arrested following a months-long sting operation by the Eastern Cape Anti-Corruption Unit.

Police spokeswoman Colonel Sibongile Soci said Maheshana and Nene were granted bail while the others would appear in court again next week.

Soci said the joint operation had involved various branches of the police, including the Anti-Corruption Unit, Crime Intelligence, Crime Scene Management and Tactical Response Team.

The operation saw five Queenstown Flying Squad members, a police reservist who assists the Flying Squad, and a civilian arrested.

Ndevu is a reservist and Kesa is a civilian.

They and the officers – from constables to warrant officers – are accused of being paid by drug dealers to allow certain dealers safe passage through the town.

Eastern Cape provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga said: “As the custodians of law and order, we will not hesitate to arrest our own members or employees when they involve themselves in any form of criminality.”