Two Upington police officers who threatened to arrest an elderly woman during Level 5 of the Covid-19 lockdown have been jailed for two years.
Sergeant Stanley Beukes, and Constable Thapelo Semamai, were sentenced for corruption in the Upington Regional court this week.
Northern Cape Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Mojalefa Senokoatsane says on the day of the incident a 74-year-old woman was spotted driving to town when she stopped on the side of the road to throw some rubbish into a bin.
He says the woman did not have a permit to be outside so the officers approached her and threatened to arrest her.
They then gave her "permission" to go to town and said it was lunch time and they wanted something.
The NPA says the woman panicked and gave them R200 and immediately reported the incident when she got home.
During court proceedings, the prosecution argued that the officers met the lady for the first time on the day and that she therefore had no vendetta against them.
Both Sergeant Beukes, 37, and Constable Semamai, 26, admitted to meeting the complainant and giving her a permit to go to town, they however denied that they solicited money.
The NPA said they showed no remorse for their actions and the court agreed with their the prosecution.
Senokoatsane says they were sentenced to two years direct imprisonment and hoped that the conviction will send a clear message to other public servants that they will be prosecuted without fear or favour.
