A Zimbabwean man, Felix Tatenda Chiyongwa, has been sentenced to five years in prison or a R50,000 fine after attempting to bribe two South African police officers with a mere R50.
The Giyani Specialised Commercial Crimes Court handed down the ruling after Chiyongwa, 37, pleaded guilty to corruption charges. In addition to the five-year prison sentence, Chiyongwa was also fined R5,000 or faced an additional one-year jail term for being an undocumented immigrant.
Both sentences are to be served concurrently, meaning Chiyongwa will effectively spend five years in prison unless he can pay the fines.
The incident that led to the arrest
The incident occurred on October 5, 2024, at Beitbridge, a border post between Zimbabwe and South Africa. During a routine check, two South African police officers requested Chiyongwa’s passport. He handed over a passport that had expired in 2020.
To avoid being arrested for overstaying his visa, Chiyongwa tried to bribe one of the officers by offering him R50, a sum of less than $3 USD.
Although the officer initially accepted the money, Chiyongwa was arrested shortly after for attempting to bribe a law enforcement officer. His actions quickly led to legal proceedings that concluded with the heavy penalties imposed by the court.
Zimbabwean man to face 5 years in prison
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi confirmed that Chiyongwa admitted guilt to both attempted bribery and illegal immigration. The court’s decision to impose such a severe penalty sends a strong message about the government’s commitment to maintaining law and order, particularly in corruption cases.
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Malabi-Dzhangi further clarified that although Chiyongwa faced two separate charges, the sentences would be served concurrently. As a result, his total sentence amounts to five years of direct imprisonment, assuming he does not pay the fines. This ruling reflects South Africa’s zero-tolerance policy toward corrupt activities that undermine public trust in law enforcement.
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