Two law enforcement officers have been arrested in connection with kidnapping, malicious damage to property, and theft following a joint operation by Gauteng Police Organised Crime Investigation and Home Affairs on Tuesday, 03 June 2025.
The suspects—a Gauteng Traffic Police officer arrested in Johannesburg and an Immigration Officer apprehended in Tshwane—are accused of unlawfully detaining a foreign national and coercing her into leaving the country under false pretenses.
According to reports, the incident occurred on 27 February 2025, when the officers allegedly visited the victim’s home and demanded to see her immigration documents. After she presented her papers, the suspects claimed they needed to verify them at the Department of Home Affairs. Instead, they took her to Pretoria Central Police Station, where she was detained for allegedly contravening the Immigration Act.
The following day, the suspects reportedly escorted the victim to the airport, purchased an airplane ticket, and instructed her to leave the country, claiming she was being deported to her home country. However, while at the airport, the victim alerted Immigration Officers, leading to a case being opened at a local police station. The matter was later transferred to the Provincial Head Office Organised Crime Investigations for further investigation.
After a thorough probe, a warrant of arrest was issued, culminating in a takedown operation led by Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, Major General Mbuso Khumalo, on 03 June 2025.
The suspects are expected to face charges related to kidnapping, malicious damage to property, and theft. Authorities have commended the collaborative effort that led to their arrest, reaffirming their commitment to upholding the law without bias.