Man in court for extortion, impersonating Durban mayor

A man will be appearing in Durban Magistrates Court today, 28 September, after he was arrested at the weekend by police officers from the Provincial Organised Crime Unit and Metro Police in Berea.

According to Col Thembeka Mbele, provincial SAPS spokesperson, it is alleged that the 28-year-old man pretended to be the municipal mayor and offered a woman a tender, Berea Mail reports.

“The man told the woman she would be paid more than a million Rand on condition that she pay R200 000 in cash upfront. She was also promised to be the first lady after the deal has been secured,” said Mbele.

Mbele said the woman became suspicious and reported the incident to police after she was instructed to put the cash into a plastic bag and wait for further instructions at a taxi rank.

“Police intercepted the suspect after he received the cash, and the cash that he had accepted was recovered in his possession. He was taken to the Durban Central police station for processing,” said Mbele.

The man was charged with extortion.