Police arrest four men for impersonating Home Affairs officials and extorting R5,000

Mpumalanga police in Carolina arrested four male suspects, aged between 35 and 51, for allegedly impersonating Home Affairs officials as well as for staging a common robbery.

The suspects were nabbed on Monday, February 3, 2025.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said a foreign national businessman contacted police complaining about four men who arrived at his shop and produced identification cards claiming that they were Home Affairs officials.

"It is further reported that these men were conducting a so-called operation, checking for expired goods. It was during this time that when these men reportedly forced the businessman to pay R5,000 to evade being charged."

Ndubane said after the report, police began searching for four men around Carolina and they eventually cornered the suspects in one of the shops, allegedly conducting similar fraudulent activities.

"Upon investigation, it was realised that these men were not genuine Home Affairs officials, and this warranted their immediate arrest hence they were apprehended as well as charged accordingly. During their arrest, an amount of R5,000 was found in their possession and the cash was confiscated and it will form part of the police investigation," Ndubane added.

Ndubane said police also searched a car that was allegedly used by the suspects during the commission of crime and inside the car, police found number plates, a camera, as well as identification cards.

"Police investigators are working in collaboration with officials from the Department of Home Affairs to ascertain the status and nationalities of the arrested suspects."

The suspects are expected to appear at the Carolina Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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