VRYBURG – A former prosecutor, Ronny Songwane (50), has been sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment or a R20,000 fine after being found guilty of corruption by the Vryburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 9 February 2026.
Songwane, who previously served as a prosecutor in Vryburg, was arrested in July 2016 shortly after allegedly receiving gratification from a complainant. According to reports, he had demanded money from a shoplifting accused in exchange for withdrawing her case.
It is alleged that the complainant initially paid R600 during her first court appearance and undertook to pay the remaining R400 at her next appearance.
Hawks spokesperson in the North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula, told Morongwa that the complainant reported the matter to the Hawks, prompting an entrapment operation. Songwane was arrested soon after he received the additional R400 from the complainant.
Following his arrest, Songwane appeared in court and was granted bail. The case went through several court appearances before he was ultimately convicted of corruption in September 2025.
