Zimbabwean mafia gang terrorising motorists arrest...

Zimbabwean mafia gang terrorising motorists arrested in Randburg, SA

The five suspects arrested for impersonating taxi association members and extorting money from motorists. Photo credit: JMPD.

Five Zimbabwean men have been arrested and charged with kidnapping and extortion over allegations of demanding payment from motorists while impersonating taxi association patrollers

Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Xolani Fihla said the JMPD Undercover Reaction Unit made the arrest.

“On Wednesday, 26 October 2022, officers received information of suspects pretending to be taxi association patrollers affiliated with PRS Taxi Association in Pretoria, who were extorting money from unsuspecting motorists giving lifts to hitchhikers in the Randburg area,” he said.

“All five suspects, Zimbabwean nationals were detained at Randburg SAPS, and both vehicles used by the suspects were seized and booked in at the SAPS Aeroton pound,” he concluded.

He said a case docket was opened at Randburg SAPS on 24 October over an allegation that the five extorted money from a truck owner at the Randburg Driving License Testing Centre and that the suspects were using a silver-grey Volvo S40.

“Whilst on patrol along Malibongwe Drive and the N1 searching for the suspects, officers identified the vehicle matching the description used in the commission of the crime. They tactically approached and stopped the vehicle. While searching they discovered that one of the occupants was a victim of extortion who the suspects had forced to withdraw R4000,”

He said the police got more information and apprehended other suspects linked to the syndicate.

“They were driving a white Isuzu bakkie. The PRS Taxi Association office was notified of the suspects extorting people using their association name and they confirmed that they had received numerous complaints about such conduct.”