FREE STATE — A sweeping SAPS corruption case has culminated in a 15-year prison sentence for a former Welkom police clerk who ran an elaborate scam targeting local citizens. Pitso Miya, an administrative clerk employed under the Public Service Act, faced the Lejweleputswa Regional Court on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, where he was officially convicted of corruption and accepting illicit benefits.
The investigation into the Welkom police clerk’s fraudulent activities was initially triggered by a single complaint. Miya had falsely posed as a Designated Liquor Officer (DLO), extorting a gratification payment from an unsuspecting resident by guaranteeing the procurement of a liquor licence. Once the victim realized the permit was never going to be issued, the crime was reported to local authorities.
Recognizing the high probability of a wider scam network, Warrant Officer Vusimusi Ngomane took proactive measures. Acting as a key voice for the investigation, he partnered with the Corporate Communication and Liaison Office to broadcast a public media alert. The statement warned the community about the scam and actively urged anyone who had fallen prey to similar misrepresentations to step forward.
The public appeal proved highly effective. As more victims came forward to the Welkom Police Station, authorities opened a total of eight separate dockets. Between January 2024 and August 2024, Miya collected numerous gratification payments by falsely assuring individuals that he could secure them jobs within the police service as constables or administrative clerks. Attempting to evade accountability as the investigation tightened, Miya ultimately resigned from his post.
The meticulous probe, spearheaded by Warrant Officer Vusimusi Ngomane alongside Warrant Officer Jacobus Palm, successfully built a watertight case, leading to all eight dockets being formally presented before the court.
Ultimately, the Regional Court handed down a 15-year direct imprisonment sentence for his corruption and acceptance of benefits. However, eight of those years were suspended, contingent upon the strict condition that Miya is not found guilty of any corruption-related crimes during his suspension period.
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