Six Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) constables from the Drug Unit, arrested on charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, extortion, and obstructing justice, appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

According to African Reporter, the matter was postponed to today for a formal bail application.

The officers were arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on Wednesday after being summoned to the EMPD head office in Kempton Park.

According to IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping, the events involving the six constables unfolded a year ago. She said it is alleged that on March 5, 2024, the officers stopped a Congolese national for a supposed traffic violation.

The officers asked to see his driver’s licence and identification documents to verify his legal status in the country.

After checking the documents, they took him to Boksburg Home Affairs for verification.

“After the verification process, they drove with him to his house in an estate in Boksburg. Here, they searched the house without a search warrant and confiscated an amount of money,” explained Suping.

Additional information suggests that instead of taking the man to Boksburg North Police Station, the officers allegedly forced him to his home despite his refusal.

They reportedly made him open the gate using his access code. When the caretaker intervened, the officers allegedly claimed they did not need a search warrant to enter the property.

The officers then searched the victim’s home and allegedly took R120 000 in cash before taking him to the Boksburg EMPD precinct, where they returned his car and released him without laying charges.

The victim later opened a case against the officers, leading to a preliminary investigation by Boksburg North SAPS. The matter was taken to court, where the NPA advised SAPS to refer it to IPID as it involved police officers.

IPID completed its investigation and referred the case to the South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, which decided that the six EMPD members must be charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances under Section 1 of Act 51 of 1977 or alternative theft and defeating/obstructing the administration of justice.

Warrants of arrest were then issued.

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