Fake police official arrested

A 30 year-old man was arrested for impersonating a police official in the Tzaneen Central Business District on Saturday.

According to the police spokesperson, Constable Glenda Maimele, the suspect, Phillip Magwele from Marironi village in Bolobedu South was arrested for posing as a police official to his victims.

Maimele said police received a tip-off about a man who was robbing people of their money under the pretext of being a police detective investigating a theft of money case.

“Members of the police joint-cluster operation rushed to the scene and arrested the man. They searched him and found a fake police identity card, bank and other clothing account cards,” said Maimele.

Magwele appeared in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of impersonating a police officer. He was remanded in to police custody pending further investigations. He was due to appear again at the time of going to press.

Meanwhile, police are appealing to the public to help find Maropeng Moses Masetla (41) from Tickyline village who can assist them in their investigations into several crimes committed while impersonating police officer.

This follows after a 67 year-old man was robbed of R 40 000 in cash by the man posing as a police detective who was investigating a case of robbery.

Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said the suspect took the old man away from one of the major banks in Tzaneen saying he was following up suspects in the robbery case. He then robbed the elderly man and disappeared.

Anyone who knows Masetla or his whereabouts is requested to contact the nearest police station or Detective Constable Mohale Matshwi at 076 924 1237 or Colonel James Espach at 082 451 7169 or the SAPS Crime Stop Number 0860010111 for 24 hours.