Poor immigrants – already under siege from Operation Dudula – have fallen prey to a fake policewoman who demanded R500 from foreign nationals for failing to produce their passports.
The fake policewoman in plain clothes accosted foreign nationals in the Johannesburg CBD.
On Sunday, thousands of Operation Dudula members marched through the CBD demanding that businesses replace foreign workers with locals.
Taking advantage of the heightened anti-foreigner sentiment, the 45-year-old woman on Sunday demanded passports from people she identified as foreign nationals.
The fake policewoman, who was with three other “cops”, was accosting individuals downtown, near Bree Street.
The daring woman showed them a fake police ID and demanded their passports.
She demanded cash from those who could not produce their passports. To compel the foreign nationals to pay the bribes she threatened them with arrest.
But her luck ran out on Sunday afternoon when real police officers caught wind of the scam and confronted her before they arrested her.
“Police apprehended a 45-year-old female for impersonating police corner Bree and Klein Street on Sunday, 20 February 2022 at 14:00,” said Captain Xoli Mbele
“It is alleged that four bogus police stopped two females corner Bree and Von Weiligh Street showed them their fake appointment cards and demanded their passports.”
“They failed to produce them and they demanded five hundred rand from each of them or face arrest.
“Victims were only having one hundred rand and they told them that they are under arrest.”
Captain Mbele said the police were on routine crime prevention duties when they were tipped off about bogus police officers that were targeting immigrants.
“They rushed to the scene and rescued the victims,” said Captain Mbele.
“Three bogus police ran away and one was apprehended. She was having a fake appointment certificate.”
The suspect will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 22 February 2022.
