PRETORIA – The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) has hailed the conviction and sentencing of its former Brigadier Simon Mzayifani Madonsela (58), who was sentenced to an effective eight years imprisonment in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for corruption on Tuesday.
Madonsela was accused of soliciting a financial benefit amounting to R40 000, from a distressed Kwazulu Natal family in connection with the disappearance of their family member, a woman who had mysteriously gone missing. The investigation into her disappearance had gone cold with no leads and the docket was closed.
Madonsela was a section head of the organised crime investigation team at the time. He abused his authority in 2015 when he approached the family and told them that his superiors wanted to close the docket and that he needed R40 000 from them to ensure that the docket remained open. He also assured them that the matter will receive his personal attention if he was paid the said amount. The family could not pay the requested amount but gave him R25 000. He later requested a further R3 000, which the family paid as well.
When the family realized that the matter was not receiving the assured attention they laid a charge against him. The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation took charge of the docket and following an investigation, he was arrested on 25 March 2017. He was consequently charged with two counts of corruption in contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA).
Meanwhile, Madonsela resigned in 2017 after an internal disciplinary process was instituted against him. The court has granted bail pending leave to appeal his conviction which will be heard on Friday.
The National Head of the DPCI, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya has applauded the investigators and prosecution teams for the conviction. “The DPCI shall continue to impartially deal with cases without fear, favor or prejudice regardless of the position that a suspect may be holding”.