Two police officers are expected to return to the dock in the Springbok Magistrate’s Court in October in connection with a corruption and fraud investigation involving a scheme that allegedly exploited court sentences to benefit a private hunting association.
The SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association has denied any links to one of two police officers who appeared in the Springbok Magistrate’s Court in connection with a corruption and fraud investigation.
In a recent article published on the DFA’s website, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said that two South African Police Service (SAPS) members, Captain Karel Coetzee du Toit and Warrant Officer Leonard William Landrew, appeared in the Springbok Magistrate’s Court on August 2.
“Both officers are attached to the Springbok police station and face serious allegations, including fraud, theft, defeating the ends of justice, corruption and contravention of the Tourism Act,” Senokoatsane said at the time.
He added that Captain Du Toit was the commander of the Stock Theft unit as well as the director of Pillansii Tours (Pty) Ltd.
The statement by the NPA said that Du Toit was a board member of the South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association and “he allegedly orchestrated a system where the Hunters Association received financial benefits through court-imposed donations”.
Senokoatsane said Du Toit also allegedly failed to report financial gains from his tourism business between 2016 and 2023, which he allegedly used for fraudulent activities.
“Warrant Officer Landrew also faces charges alongside Du Toit, with specific reference to his role as an investigating officer in cases where Du Toit served as an agent. It has been reported that they did not properly book seized plants and exhibited evidence from the crime scenes, further complicating the investigation.”
Senokoatsane said the court remanded the matter for further investigation until October 24, when additional evidence and testimonies would be reviewed.
In a statement, the CEO of South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association, Fred Camphor, stated that Du Toit is not, and has never been a board member of the association.
“He is at best a member of the association, and has been a member of the management committee of the local Namakwa branch, one of 83 branches of the association.”
Camphor also stated that the association never received any financial benefits from any court-imposed donations.
