WELKOM – A former South African Police Service (SAPS) employee has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of corruption for defrauding members of the public with false promises of liquor licences and employment opportunities.
The Lejweleputswa Regional Court in Welkom sentenced Pitso Miya, a former administration clerk at the Welkom Police Station employed under the Public Service Act, on Tuesday, 21 July 2026.
According to police, Miya falsely presented himself as a Designated Liquor Officer (DLO) and convinced an unsuspecting victim that he could arrange a liquor licence in exchange for a payment. When the promised licence failed to materialise, the victim reported the matter to the police.
The complaint prompted an investigation led by Warrant Officers Vusimusi Ngomane and Jacobus Palm. Suspecting that more people may have been targeted, Warrant Officer Ngomane worked with the SAPS Corporate Communication and Liaison Office to issue a public appeal, warning residents and encouraging additional victims to come forward.
The appeal resulted in several more complaints, with a total of eight criminal cases being opened against Miya.
Investigators established that between January and August 2024, Miya accepted money from multiple victims after falsely promising to secure liquor licences or employment within the SAPS, either as police constables or administration clerks.
Police said Miya resigned from the SAPS after realising that the investigation was closing in on him.
Following a detailed investigation, the eight cases were brought before the Regional Court, where Miya was found guilty of corruption.
He was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, of which eight years were suspended on condition that he is not convicted of corruption during the period of suspension.
The conviction brings to a close an investigation that exposed a scheme in which members of the public were deceived into paying for services and employment opportunities that never existed.
