Acting senior magistrate Paul Monyamane reserved judgment following sentencing arguments in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (21/7). The matter was postponed to 17 August, when Asaneng is expected to be sentenced.

Asaneng, 59, who was convicted in March, asked the court through his legal team not to impose a harsh sentence. His lawyers urged the magistrate to consider a fine or another non-custodial sentence instead of direct imprisonment. During proceedings, advocate Piet Pistorius SC argued Asaneng was not an appropriate candidate for imprisonment. He described him as a dedicated public servant whose actions were out of character.

Pistorius told the court his client had served the country with distinction for many years, had shown integrity throughout his career, and had learnt a painful lesson from his conviction.

The convictions stem from incidents dating back to 2019 involving the misuse of state resources while Asaneng was serving in a senior leadership position within the police service. The court found he had unlawfully used a state-owned police helicopter and subsequently submitted a false travel claim.

Evidence showed Asaneng boarded a police R44 Raven II helicopter on 7 May 2019, claiming he was travelling from Potchefstroom to Mahikeng to attend to a reported crime scene at a voting station in Ikageng during the general elections. Investigators later established he never visited the crime scene. Instead, he allegedly used the opportunity to take his private vehicle for servicing. The helicopter flight lasted approximately 296 minutes and reportedly cost the state about R16,000.

Asaneng was also convicted of fraud after submitting a travel claim stating his official Ford Ranger had travelled 44km on official business while the vehicle was at a dealership undergoing maintenance.

During sentencing proceedings, the court heard the investigation and prosecution had cost the state more than R200,000. The prosecution argued these expenses could have been avoided had Asaneng not committed the offences.

State prosecutor Itumeleng Madibusa urged the court to consider all sentencing options available under the law and impose a sentence reflecting both the seriousness of the offences and Asaneng’s personal circumstances.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm

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