Three Limpopo police officers have been arrested on charges of theft and bribery, South African Police Service (SAPS) officials said.

The SAPS Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit, assisted by the Polokwane Tactical Response Team, arrested the officers on WednesdayT. They are expected to appear in the Praktiseer Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Police said the arrests demonstrate their commitment to rooting out corruption and criminality within their ranks.

The allegations

Police say two separate cases led to the arrests.

In the first, a 46-year-old officer faces two counts of theft. He is accused of taking a bank card belonging to a complainant who was in police custody. Two withdrawals totalling R9,000 were later made from the complainant's account.

The case was registered at Burgersfort police station in December 2023. The Director of Public Prosecutions directed that charges be brought, and a J50 warrant of arrest was issued.

In the second, two officers aged 33 and 47 are accused of soliciting and receiving a R1,000 bribe from a foreign national.

Police say the officers had attended a complaint about a suspected counterfeit R200 note. They allegedly took the complainant to his home and demanded R1,000 in exchange for not arresting him for being in the country illegally. The man allegedly paid and was released.

The case was reported at Ohrigstad police station in August 2026. It was investigated by the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit and referred to the Control Prosecutor, and J50 warrants were issued for both officers.

Police have not released the officers' names or ranks.

Scheepers: decisive action

Limpopo provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Petrus Scheepers welcomed the arrests and commended the Anti-Corruption Unit.

He said police would continue to take "decisive action against members" who abuse their positions for personal gain, and warned that officers must uphold the law and maintain high standards of integrity, professionalism and accountability.

Scheepers also said corruption undermines the police's ability to fight crime and weakens public confidence.

Investigations are continuing. Police urged the public to report corruption, theft and other misconduct by officers through the proper SAPS channels.

The officers are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Police have not said whether they will apply for bail.