By Staff Reporter
Gauteng Traffic Police Chief Inspector Samuel Mashaba has been placed on precautionary suspension pending a formal disciplinary process, the Gauteng Office of the Premier said on Sunday.
Mashaba, who appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry last week, faces allegations of corruption, defeating the ends of justice, and attempting to steal 715kg of cocaine valued at about R300 million during a 2021 drug bust in Aeroton, south of Johannesburg.
The premier’s office said the suspension takes immediate effect.
It said the decision follows testimony at the commission, during which Mashaba made admissions relating to conduct that may constitute serious breaches of the Public Service Code of Conduct, departmental policies and applicable laws.
“The admissions include allegations relating to the misuse of official powers entrusted to him as a law enforcement officer; the misuse of departmental tools of trade and state resources; and the acceptance of compensation from a member of the public in circumstances that raise concerns regarding conflicts of interest and ethical conduct,” the office said.
“The Gauteng Provincial Government takes these allegations seriously and is committed to ensuring the highest standards of integrity, accountability and professionalism within all its institutions.”
The premier’s office further said Mashaba would surrender all state-issued tools of trade, including phones, firearms and laptops, and is barred from entering government buildings or interacting with staff during the investigation.
The inquiry has heard that the drugs, seized from a truck en route to Johannesburg, were allegedly shipped from Brazil.
The matter led to Mashaba’s arrest, along with two other police officers, who later lodged a complaint with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
Mashaba has previously admitted, among other things, to accepting money from a police informant.
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