Polokwane motorists warned of rogue mechanics extorting cash in CBD
Motorists in Polokwane are being warned about rogue mechanics who lure victims with cheap offers before demanding thousands in extortion.
POLOKWANE – The Community Policing Forum (CPF) in Polokwane has warned motorists about rogue mechanics operating in the central business district, after several extortion cases were reported at the Polokwane Police Station.
CPF chairperson Rudolph Phaswana explained that groups of individuals often linger outside vehicle-body shops, approaching customers with offers of cheaper mechanical services.
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Many unsuspecting vehicle owners agree, only to be confronted with inflated demands once the job is complete.
“In one case, a victim initially agreed to pay R600, but afterwards was forced to hand over R4 000. Fearing for his safety, he was even accompanied to withdraw the money,” Phaswana said.
Polokwane Observer recently referred a local man in his 50s to the police after he faced a similar situation.
He accepted an offer to repair his car for R400 but was later surrounded and pressured to pay R4 000.
Unable to afford the amount, he negotiated it down to R2 000, money he had earmarked for his monthly expenses.
Phaswana urged all victims to report such incidents at their nearest police stations to aid investigations.
He added that the CPF, together with law enforcement, is closely monitoring identified hotspots and working on leads to track down the perpetrators.
