Gauteng police have arrested five people in the past few days for impersonating a police officer, soldier and emergency service employee. 

A young man has been arrested in Heidelberg for impersonating a member of SANDF and for possessing a stolen property. He is 25 years old, and has a dreadlock. He was found walking in the CBD and wearing full SANDF uniform on Sunday, 26th April, 2020.

Residents of Heidelberg found it strange when a man on uniform having dreadlocks was walking suspiciously along Voortrekker Street, and so they alerted the police. After interviewing him, the police discovered he is not a member of SANDF. He was arrested and charged with impersonation, and illegal possession of suspected stolen properties.

Also, on Sunday, in Johannesburg, a 40 years old man was arrested for driving a vehicle fitted with red lights and siren. The suspect was stopped by the police and he could not show evidence that he is an emergency service employee. Police found an unlicensed firearm with ammunition in his car as well as traffic cones belonging to the South African police.

He was immediately arrested and charged for impersonating an emergency service employee, possessing unlicensed firearm ammunition, and the possession of a stolen property.

On Wednesday, a former reservist and two of her accomplices were arraigned for impersonating police officers and common robbery in Tshwane. The police commenced a search for the suspects when they received word that two women who wearing police regalia and a man had just committed robbery. 

A vehicle matching the description was seen and stopped in Soshanguve. Upon questioning the occupants, it was discovered that one female is a former police reservist while the other female and male were residents of the community.

The police found police uniforms, unwritten police docket, trays of eggs and livestock of chickens inside the vehicle. The suspects were charged with impersonating police officers, possessing stolen properties and common robbery. They were immediately arrested.

The police have begun investigation to determine how the suspects had possession of uniforms and properties belonging to the police and the army.

The Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela commended the police and community who acted with diligence to obstruct the progress of the suspects. "It is a very serious offence to impersonate a law enforcement officer. These suspects deserve a hefty sentence that will send a strong message to other criminals who tarnish the names of the hard working law enforcers and emergency service employees" said the Provincial Commissioner. 

The arrested suspects will appear in magistrate courts in due course.