A Zimbabwean couple who arrived at King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) from Harare was robbed of 8000 US Dollars by suspects posing as policemen.
The businessman (53) and his wife (47) arrived in Durban via Johannesburg at 13:00 today (Monday, December 6th, 2021). They were referred to a car dealership by an aunt who resided in Washington DC in the USA and had previously dealt with this car sales when in South Africa. The aunt had made a telephonic arrangement to purchase an orange Ford Ranger for 11 600 US Dollars (R184 315) and transport the vehicle on a car carrier back to Zimbabwe. The couple then made arrangements to pay in full when they viewed the bakkie.
Upon arrival at King Shaka International, the couple was informed by the car dealership that a silver C200 Mercedes Benz would fetch and transport them to the car lot. The couple then accompanied the driver and noticed another silver
C200 Mercedes Benz following them from the airport.
A few minutes later the vehicle following the couple switched on blue dash lights and pulled the couple over. Five men then produced Police Appointments Certificates identifying themselves as SAPS Officers. The Policemen then informed the couple that their vehicle had jumped a red traffic light and the couple needed to step out of the vehicle. The Policeman then dropped a 9mm live round on the vehicle floor and informed the couple that they were in possession of ammunition unlawfully & they needed to be searched. Upon searching the couple they removed US Dollars to the value of R127 114 from their pockets and informed them that they would receive back the money when they got to the Police Station. The couple was then asked to wait for transportation to the local SAPS. Whilst waiting on the roadside, both C Class Mercedes Benz fled the scene.
The couple was assisted by a passing motorist who drove them to the Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) Headquarters.