Police officers arrested in Khutsong

Khutsong SAPS arrested five suspects, at least three of whom were police officers, for trying to kidnap a man over the weekend.

Three men, identifying as police officers, allegedly approached the resident of the Sonderwater informal settlement on Saturday. The same man was allegedly a victim of kidnapping and torture in December.

After drinks with friends, the man returned to his car and saw a white Toyota Etios speeding towards him, blocking him from getting away. The two armed occupants identified themselves as police officers and told the man to get into their car. He refused, however, and fled to the Khutsong police station, where he reported the incident to police members at the entrance. They waited with him until the vehicle passed by. Once the victim spotted his attackers, the police followed the suspects, arrested them, and confiscated the Etios.

Five men appeared in the Khutsong Magistrate’s Court in connection with the case on Monday.

As far as could be determined, two accused are police officers from Tsakane near Brakpan on the East Rand, while another was from the Khutsong police station.

Although the SAPS arrested the suspects, they refused to comment on the names, ranks and police stations the accused came from.

When the Herald tried to get more information, Khutsong’s acting station commander, Lt Col Chauke, referred the newspaper to the provincial SAPS spokesperson, Lt Col Mavela Masondo. He directed the newspaper to the national spokesperson, Brigadier Brenda Muridili, and refused to respond when she redirected the enquiries to him.

Masondo then referred the Herald to the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority).

By printing time, the NPA had not responded to the enquiries either.
“It is regrettable that these crimes occur in our town. They are committed against immigrants who are supposed to feel safe in our area.

“This was the third such kidnapping in our area,” an opposition party councillor, Mr Welile Fihla, said at the courts on Monday afternoon.