Three impersonating cops arrested after armed robbery; fourth suspect, a detective, killed

Three men masquerading as police officers were foiled and arrested after staging a brazen armed robbery in Belfast, Mpumalanga.

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said the suspects pretended to be police officers before ambushing a VW Polo that had stopped on the roadside. The victims, including the 34-year-old driver, were held at gunpoint and ordered to lie on the ground.

Mdhluli added that while the victims were being threatened, police patrol members deployed in the area to curb recent robberies noticed suspicious activity. The officers swiftly approached and identified themselves as police, but the suspects opened fire while fleeing in a white Datsun Go with Mpumalanga registration plates.

One suspect fled on foot. A high-speed chase ensued, culminating in the suspects’ vehicle crashing into a tree. The suspects were cornered at the scene, while a 54-year-old Pienaar SAPS detective, found deceased in the rear seat, is suspected to have sustained injuries during the shootout, which is under investigation.

Two firearms and ammunition were recovered, and a state vehicle, a Toyota Hilux from Pienaar Detectives, was also recovered near the incident site. Police said they can not rule out that the vehicle was used without authorisation, which remains under investigation.

The suspects, aged between 30 and 42, face charges including attempted carjacking, armed robbery, attempted murder, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. More charges may follow. They are expected to appear at the Belfast Magistrate’s Court on Monday, August 25.

Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed the suspects’ arrests and the recovery of firearms and ammunition, commending officers for their bravery in defending themselves during the attack.

"It is a shameful act when an individual sworn to uphold the law is found on the other side of it. As the SAPS, we distance ourselves from any criminality. It is either that our members are with us against crime or consequences will follow for their criminal activities, as one cannot serve two masters. It is time they ship in or ship out, ” added Mkhwanazi.

The Star

masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za