According to police spokesperson Sergio Kock, a multi-disciplinary team raided several businesses in Niekerkshoop, Prieska and surrounding areas and arrested five foreign national males. They also confiscated SASSA cards, banks cards and identity documents that were found in the suspects’ stores.

“The businessowners coerce the community members to hand over their pension cards in return for groceries and charge them exorbitant levies on the transactions,” Kock says.

Kock further says that the multi-disciplinary team included the provincial SAPS, De Aar Crime Intelligence, Prieska Home Affairs, De Aar Flying Squad, Public Order Policing and the K9 unit, who executed operations on 6 and 7 June in various towns in the Northern Cape.

He adds that the police also followed up on a separate incident where two male suspects were withdrawing and fled from the scene when they spotted the police.

“Police searched a bakkie they had left behind and found SASSA cards, ID documents and bank cards, as well as an undisclosed amount of cash,” Kock says.

The cash, cards and bakkie were seized by the police as it was allegedly utilised during criminal activities.

All the arrested suspects were charged and will appear in court soon.

Police request that people who may have fallen prey to similar criminal activities please contact detective constable Stefaans Mangate on 060 963 6397, SMS anonymously to 32211 or utilise the My SAPS App.

OFM News