Police sergeant caught in crime web

Thabazimbi - A tale of trust broken unfolded in Thabazimbi when a 39-year-old Police sergeant, William Rachuene, found himself on the defendant’s side of the courtroom. He appeared before the Thabazimbi Magistrate Court on Thursday 14 September 2023 regarding a housebreaking and motor vehicle theft case. 

After his first court appearance, Rachuene was remanded in police custody and his case was postponed until Wednesday 20 September 2023 for formal bail application. However, at the time of going to print, the outcome could not be confirmed. 

Sergeant Rachuene, an officer stationed at Thabazimbi SAPS, was arrested in an unexpected twist at his workplace by the combined efforts of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit, Thabazimbi Crime Intelligence, and the Tactical Response Team (TRT) on 13 September.

The sequence of events began when a house owner, after a trip to Mozambique in February, returned to a disturbing scene: a Toyota Corolla, once sheltered the homeowner’s garage, had been stripped of parts, and a white Toyota Legend 45 bakkie was missing. This led to the arrest of two suspects in March, found with the engine and gearbox of the stolen bakkie.

However, as investigations deepened, the trail circled back to Rachuene. It emerged that he had a hand in selling parts of the stolen vehicle. While the bakkie remains missing, the evidence against the sergeant was compelling enough for an arrest warrant. “The bakkie was never recovered, leading to a joint operation to apprehend the member at work,” shared Limpopo police spokesperson, colonel Malesela Ledwaba.

Limpopo’s Provincial Commissioner, lieutenant general Thembi Hadebe, responded firmly to the arrest, stating that the SAPS has no place for officers who stray into criminal activities.