A 49-year-old man suspected of impersonating a police officer was arrested by Witbank Police.
On September 19, a man walked into 13th Room at Witbank Police Station and introduced himself as ‘Colonel Mokwela’.
He allegedly explained that he was investigating a case of use of motor vehicle without the driver’s consent and requested that the vehicle, a silver Toyota Yaris, be released from the yard. Mokwela produced a police identification document at request and stated that the case occurred in Mabopane, Pretoria.
As the docket was being brought out, Mokwela allegedly insisted that the vehicle be disposed of. This alerted the officers on duty who then notified Col Raymond Talmakkies.
Mokwela allegedly explained that he was from the 10111 Centre in the East Rand and that he was there to hand over the vehicle to its rightful owner. Suspicion arose and Col Talmakkies contacted the relevant stations, confirming that Mokwela was impersonating a police officer.
The man was immediately arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer.
Mokwela appeared in Witbank Magistrate’s Court on September 22. The case was postponed for further investigation until September 29 and Mokwela is currently in custody at Paxton Correctional Services.
“Anyone who is found impersonating a police officer, whether it be telephonically, through a false ID card, or driving a marked vehicle, will be dealt with to the full extent of the law, there will be zero tolerance for such a crime,” said Capt Eddie Hall, Witbank Police communications.
The impounded Toyota Yaris was confiscated when police arrested suspects transporting at least 100kg of dagga.
The suspects were arrested and the vehicle impounded.
“We believe they are trying to have the vehicle released for using it in the market of drug trafficking,” said Capt Hall.
Mokwela was previously convicted of dealing in a prohibited substance in December 2000 when he was arrested by the South African Narcotics Bureau at OR Tambo International Airport.
