Former policeman sentenced for submitting fake Grade 12 certificate

Date: 06 November 2025 By: 

The police’s Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit has secured the conviction and sentencing of a 43-year-old police constable, Eric Nyadzani Ravhura, who was found guilty of fraud after submitting a fraudulent Grade 12 certificate to secure appointment within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The court heard that on 22 September 2019, the SAPS had advertised posts for the 2020 Police Trainee Intake, requiring applicants to possess a Grade 12 or NQF Level 4 qualification. The accused, who was then serving as a police reservist at the time, applied for the post and submitted a fraudulent Grade 12 certificate. Based on this misrepresentation, Ravhura was accepted, underwent police training, and was permanently appointed as a constable at Alldays SAPS.

“In June 2021, a verification process conducted by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) revealed that the certificate submitted by the accused was not authentic. The fraudulent act resulted in the SAPS’s suffering a financial loss due to the salary and training costs incurred during his employment,” said provincial police spokesperson Brig Hlulani Mashaba in a media statement.

The case was referred to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit for further investigation. Upon completion, the docket was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a decision, which led to the issuing and execution of a warrant of arrest against the accused.

After several court appearances, Ravhura was found guilty on 27 October 2025 by the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on one count of fraud.

“On 3 November, the accused was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of R30,000, which was suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during the suspension period. Additionally, he was declared unfit to possess a firearm.”

The acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Maj-Gen Jan Scheepers, welcomed the sentence, emphasising that integrity and honesty are non-negotiable qualities within the SAPS.

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