Africa-Press – South-Africa. A 34-year-old Eswatini man has been arrested after he allegedly stole a police uniform, impersonated an officer and robbed people at the border between South Africa and Swaziland.
Nkosingiphile Siyalu Mancoba, 34, was arrested near Tonga at the Jeppes Reef border gate.
At the time, he was dressed in the stolen police uniform posing as a sergeant at the border, where he allegedly robbed his victims.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said police had been tipped off by a concerned citizen.
“When the police arrived, Mancoba was cornered and arrested. He was found wearing a police uniform with a female shirt, male trousers, but without a belt, a cap, as well as ranks of a sergeant and a pair of brown shoes,” said Mohlala.
Upon arrival at the Schoemansdal police station in Mpumalanga, where he was to be charged, police made a shocking discovery.
Residents warned to be aware of bogus cops
“One of the female officers at the station recognised Mancoba as the person she hired to install a ceiling in her home between February and March 2022. Through investigation, it was discovered that during the period he was hired by the officer, Mancoba allegedly stole her police uniform [shirts],” said Mohlala.
Mohlala said further investigations into how Mancoba obtained the other items of the uniform were still ongoing. Mancoba appeared before the Nkomazi Magistrate’s Court in Tonga on Thursday.
According to Mohlala, he faces charges of theft and impersonating a police officer and would remain in custody until 12 April for a formal bail application.
Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, said: “Given the recent incidents whereby members of the police were targeted by criminals for their tools of [the] trade, this has made us to be more vigilant. We will deal strongly with those who take us for granted and we will never back down nor allow the situation to continue unabated,” said Manamela.
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