MIDDELBURG – A former South African Police Service (SAPS) officer has been sentenced to five years' direct imprisonment after the Middelburg Regional Court found him guilty of corruption for soliciting and accepting a R200 bribe from a motorist during an undercover operation.
Sergeant Sello Milla (41) was convicted and sentenced on Thursday, 30 July 2026, following an investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).
According to the Hawks, the conviction followed an undercover operation conducted between 2018 and 2019 by the Nelspruit-based Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI) Unit, in partnership with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and the Crime Intelligence Surveillance Unit. The operation was launched after authorities received information about alleged unlawful conduct involving law enforcement officials in Mpumalanga.
The investigation targeted officials suspected of soliciting and accepting bribes from motorists across the province.
The court heard that on 23 June 2019, Milla, who was attached to the Middelburg Flying Squad at the time, unlawfully demanded and accepted a gratification of R200 from an undercover agent posing as a motorist. He was subsequently arrested and charged with corruption.
After hearing the evidence, the court found Milla guilty and sentenced him to five years' direct imprisonment.
Welcoming the sentence, Hawks Mpumalanga Provincial Head Major General Nico Gerber said it demonstrated that corruption by law enforcement officials would not be tolerated.
"The Hawks in Mpumalanga remain committed to rooting out corruption within law enforcement and ensuring that those who abuse their positions of trust are brought to justice. This sentence must serve as a stern warning to all corrupt officials that it is not only about the value involved. In this case, a mere R200 has resulted in five years' direct imprisonment," Gerber said.
He added that the sentence sends a strong message that public officials entrusted with upholding the law will be held accountable if they engage in corrupt activities.
The Hawks reiterated their commitment to combating corruption and protecting the integrity of law enforcement institutions across Mpumalanga.
