Four South African police officers have been arrested and detained for allegedly robbing a Nigerian man’s home in Llandudno, Cape Town.
The officers, stationed across Cape Town, are accused of staging a robbery at the home of a popular Nigerian rapper, stealing jewelry valued at R20 million.
The officers, part of the Operation Restore Unit, were caught after a massive investigation launched by the Anti-Corruption Unit following the robbery on September 14. A source revealed that the arrested officers were part of a larger group of eight who used their official uniforms and vehicles to carry out house robberies in the upmarket suburb.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk confirmed the arrests and said they were investigated by the Western Cape Anti-Corruption Unit. The arrested officers were apprehended over a period of time, with the last officer being arrested on Wednesday after fingerprints found at the crime scene linked him to the robbery.
Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile praised the investigation team for the arrests and condemned the officers’ actions. He emphasized that police officers are supposed to uphold the law and protect the public, and warned those who think they can abuse state resources for their own purposes.
The Western Cape Provincial Community Police Board also condemned the officers’ actions, stating that their betrayal of trust undermines the relationship between the police and the community. The board emphasized that corruption among law enforcement officials erodes public confidence in SAPS and threatens the integrity of the entire system.
The Llandudno Special Ratings Area confirmed their awareness of the incident and stated their cooperation with the Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch Community Crime Prevention Unit and SAPS.
During the court proceedings on Thursday, three of the accused officers were expected to apply for bail, but the bail hearings were postponed to October 10 due to the addition of a fourth officer to the charge sheet.
