Burgers and cash bribes: Two ‘hungry’ Northern Cape traffic officers found guilty of corruption

Two Northern Cape traffic officers, Robert Khupe and Arthur Tywili, were found guilty of corruption by the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Upington. The court found them guilty of accepting bribes from motorists in exchange for not enforcing traffic laws.

Khupe, 50, was convicted on two counts of corruption for accepting cash bribes, while Tywili, 43, was convicted on one count. The bribery scheme took place in February 2023 while the officers were conducting traffic law enforcement duties in Upington.

On the first day of the alleged bribery, Khupe pulled over a driver for allegedly exceeding the speed limit. When the driver was unsure how to proceed, Khupe demanded R200 in cash. The driver contacted his employer, who refused to pay, and the Hawks were alerted. Khupe then met the driver in a marked cash exchange for his driver's licence and ID.

The second count involved Tywili demanding R600 in cash and two burgers from a driver who was also using his employer's vehicle. The driver left to obtain the money and burgers while his licence remained with the officers. When he returned, Khupe and Tywili had disappeared.

Both drivers testified during the trial, and the defense challenged the admissibility of evidence obtained during an entrapment operation. However, the court ruled that the evidence was lawfully obtained and admissible. Khupe denied soliciting gratification, claiming the cash was a token of appreciation, and Tywili did not testify or call any witnesses.

The court found the state witnesses credible and consistent in their accounts, and rejected Khupe's version of events. The officers have requested correctional supervision and probation reports for sentencing, and the case was postponed to December 2026.