Two police officials have been arrested in connection with the hijacking of a truck transporting abalone from a commercial abalone farm in Buffeljagsbaai outside Gansbaai to Cape Town International Airport.
The two officials, aged 33 and 37 respectively, also face a charge of theft relating to the theft of the large consignment of abalone with an estimated value of R500 000 that was being transported in the vehicle.
The incident occurred on 10 August 2022 near the Baden Powell off-ramp along the N2 in Cape Town.
The truck driver reportedly stopped the vehicle after two marked police vehicles with flashing lights and sirens approached it.
A statement by the provincial police stated that the driver and his crew members were reportedly approached by the occupants of the police vehicles who were dressed in police uniform and requested to hand over their cellphones.
The officers allegedly also took a rifle and handgun from the occupants of the truck.
“The driver was put in the back of one of the police vehicles while his passengers were placed in the back of the other police vehicle and driven away from the scene,” reads the report.
The crew were reportedly later released in a bushy area near Mitchells Plain. The truck was found abandoned and emptied of its expensive cargo.
A hijacking case was opened and being investigated by the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes (SVC) Investigations Unit.
Captain FC van Wyk, a provincial police spokesperson, stated: “Two marked police vehicles used by members of Operation Restore were identified as the vehicles involved in pulling the truck over.
“Both vehicles’ aerial vehicle location (AVLs) placed them at the different crime scenes.
“The drivers of the vehicles were identified and their cellphone records were obtained. The records of both drivers placed them at or near the different crime scenes.
“It was also established that both the officers were off duty at the time of the incident but were authorised to be in possession of the marked police vehicles.”
The two police officials were arrested on Friday 1 March during a planned “Take Down Operation” carried out by the provincial SVC unit assisted by members of the crime intelligence unit.
The team arrested one officer at Sea Point Police Station and the other at the anti-gang unit based in Faure.
The two police officers appeared in the Somerset West Magistrates’ Court on Monday 4 March on charges of hijacking and theft.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieut Genl Thembisile Patekile, said corrupt actions by police officers tarnish the reputation of the police and will not be tolerated.
He further emphasised that police officers involved in criminal activities will face, without doubt, the full might of the law.
Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Reagen Allen commended the police for “arresting these alleged corrupt officers.
“It’s encouraging to note that the police are not shying away from bringing their own to book.
“The diligence and care in which this matter was investigated is noteworthy.
“It angers me that we continue to have officers who are allegedly making themselves guilty of functioning like the very criminals they should be working to remove from our streets.
“I am further deeply disappointed that one alleged officer is attached to the anti-gang unit. This unit has such a pivotal role to play in combating gang activity. This is like a blow to the gut.
“I urge these officers also to inform investigators who else is alleged to be involved in this matter. Any person with information should make it available to the police, so the prosecutor has a watertight case when presented in court.”
