Former SA Police sergeant arrested for kidnapping, extortion, impersonating police officials, and motor vehicle theft

A former South African Police Service (SAPS) sergeant has been arrested for kidnapping, extortion, impersonating police officials and theft of a motor vehicle.

This arrest followed an intelligence-led operation by the Mangaung Metro District Operational Command Centre Crime Combating Unit.

The incident occurred on 23 October 2026, when the suspects, some wearing police reflector jackets and impersonating police officials, entered a house in Botshabelo.

They kidnapped a couple under the pretext that they were being arrested. The victims were blindfolded and taken in a white VW Polo Vivo.

The criminals also took the victims’ grey Toyota Corolla and drove it to an unknown address.

On 24 October 2026, family members of the victims were alerted by their banks to suspicious withdrawals of large sums.

The banks also said that the victims could not be reached by telephone to confirm these transactions.

When the family managed to contact them, the victims informed them, under duress, that they were relaxing at a hotel in Bloemfontein and would return on Sunday.

The victims were later released by the suspects but did not report the crime to the police as the suspects threatened to kill them and their family members.

The victims were extorted for an undisclosed amount of money. The case was opened only on Monday, 26 October 2026, at the Botshabelo SAPS.

On the same day, members of Provincial Crime Intelligence shared information with the Mangaung Metro Operational Command Centre Crime Combating Unit.

This included a telephone call from Evaton SAPS requesting assistance in identifying the owner of the given cellphone number.

The owner was reported to be from Botshabelo and was communicating with an individual who reported suspicious deposits into his bank account at Evaton SAPS.

The Mangaung Metro Operational Command Centre asked members of Selosesha Crime Intelligence to identify the owner of the cellphone number.

The 33-year-old owner was identified as a former SAPS sergeant stationed at Tweespruit SAPS who resigned in April 2026.

His resignation from the SA Police Service followed his arrest for business robbery at a chain store in Ladybrand.

It was further established that the suspect intended to drive from Botshabelo to Bloemfontein.

A joint operation was then conducted, and the suspect was arrested near a shopping mall.

“Upon interviewing the suspect, it was positively confirmed that the cellphone number belonged to him,” the SAPS said.

The suspect was then arrested for kidnapping, impersonating a police official, extortion, and theft of a motor vehicle and detained in police cells.

His cellphones, a blue Samsung A06 and a blue Itel cellphone, were handed in at Botshabelo Evidence Management System.

It was further established that the suspect was still on bail of R10,000 for the business robbery in Ladybrand.

The suspect is expected to appear before the Botshabelo Magistrate’s Court soon.