Johannesburg – A Gauteng traffic police officer and an immigration officer have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a kidnapping, theft, and unlawful deportation scheme targeting foreign nationals, the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed on Tuesday.
The arrests follow a takedown operation on 3 June, carried out by the Gauteng Organised Crime Investigation unit in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs.
The traffic officer was apprehended in Johannesburg, while the immigration official was arrested in Tshwane.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, the case stems from an incident on 27 February 2025.
The two suspects allegedly approached a foreign national at her residence, demanded her immigration documents, and claimed they were taking her to the Department of Home Affairs for verification. Instead, they reportedly detained her at Pretoria Central Police Station for allegedly contravening the Immigration Act.
#sapsGP A collaborative effort by Gauteng Police Organised Crime Investigation and the Department of Home Affairs led to the arrest of two law enforcement officers for alleged #kidnapping, malicious damage to property and theft on 03 June 2025. A Gauteng Traffic Police member was… pic.twitter.com/mHa5uo8FQd
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 3, 2025
The following day, the suspects allegedly transported the victim to the airport, purchased a plane ticket, and instructed her to leave South Africa as she was being “deported”. However, the victim reported the incident to officials at the airport, prompting the opening of a criminal case.
“A thorough investigation was conducted and a warrant of arrest was issued against the suspects. A take down operation led by the Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Crime Detection, Major General Mbuso Khumalo, was conducted on Tuesday, 03 June 2025,” Masondo said.
“Major General Khumalo believes that there might be other foreign nationals who may have fallen victim to this criminality. He has made a call to any victims where the same modus operandi was used, to please report the matter to the nearest police station or call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.”
Investigations are ongoing.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
