A South African activist based in Mozambique has relived his traumatic experience of being robbed by men posing as police officers in Pretoria.
ALSO READ: The Kiffness’ Nightmarish Tour: South African Musician Robbed Twice and Forced to Cancel US Show
How Activist was Robbed By Bogus Police Officers
The incident happened on Monday, 20 November, when the activist, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons, was in South Africa to attend a conference.
The activist said he had withdrawn R50,000 from a bank in Pretoria CBD to pay for his accommodation and transport. He said he was walking on the street when a white Toyota Corolla with blue lights and a siren stopped next to him. Four men in police uniforms got out of the car and asked him for his passport and money.
“They said they were from the Hawks and they wanted to check if I was not involved in money laundering. After taking my passport and money, they told me to get into the car. They said they would take me to the police station to verify my documents,” he said.
The man revealed that he became suspicious when the men drove past several police stations and did not stop. He said he tried to call his friends, but the men took his phone and switched it off. He pleaded with them to let him go, but they ignored him.
“They drove me to a deserted place near Mamelodi. They searched my bag and took my laptop, camera, and other valuables. The men also took my clothes and shoes. They said they would kill me if I reported them to the police. Afterwards, gave me R100 and told me to find my way back to the city,” he said.
Rescued After The Traumatic Experience
The activist managed to get a lift from a passing motorist who took him to a nearby petrol station. He said he borrowed a phone and called his friends who came to his rescue. He then reported the incident to the police, but he was not hopeful that the culprits would be caught.
The activist disclosed that he was traumatised by the ordeal and he feared for his life. He said he wanted to return to Mozambique as soon as possible. He hopes that his story would alert other people to be careful of fake cops.
“I don’t know why they targeted me. Maybe they saw me coming out of the bank or maybe they followed me from the airport. I don’t know who they are or what they want. Now, I just want to go home and forget about this nightmare,” he said.