Four South African Police Officers Arrested in R20 Million Jewelry Heist
Four South African police officers have been detained in connection with a R20 million jewelry heist at a Nigerian man’s residence in Llandudno, Cape Town. Their bail hearing has been postponed until next week.
Jacobus Adriaan Groenewald, Bradley Dimitri Minnaar, Mthuthuzeli Mafanya, and Bathandwa Soldati appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on October 3, 2024, facing aggravated robbery charges after being arrested by the Anti-Corruption Unit over the past two weeks.
The officers, part of the Operation Restore Unit, are accused of staging a robbery at the home of a prominent Nigerian rapper, whose identity remains undisclosed.
According to the Western Cape police, a thorough investigation following the September 14 robbery led to the arrests of the officers.
A source revealed that the arrested officers are part of a group of eight who allegedly used their official South African Police Service (SAPS) uniforms and vehicles to carry out house robberies in the affluent area.
“Four of the eight officers involved in this scheme have been apprehended,” the source stated. “They posed as police officers searching for a wanted individual at the residence of a wealthy Nigerian, but instead stole jewelry worth R20 million.”
“They carelessly left fingerprints at the crime scene as they took Rolex watches, gold bracelets, emeralds, and other luxury items, clearly showing they had planned the heist as a syndicate despite being based at different stations,” the source added.
The suspects reportedly wore full uniforms and used state vehicles, even putting false plates on them. However, they were tracked down because the SAPS monitoring system identified their presence at the scene.
“In the police force, your DNA and fingerprints are recorded, which is how they were linked to the crime after the homeowner filed a report,” the source explained.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk confirmed the arrests and noted the case is under investigation by the Western Cape Anti-Corruption Unit.
“On September 14, around 1:35 AM, a house robbery occurred involving several police officers at the residence of a foreign national in Sunset Avenue, Llandudno. This case was initially reported to Hout Bay police and subsequently transferred to the Anti-Corruption Unit for further investigation,” he stated.
“Investigation by experienced detectives led to the gradual arrests of the police members. A 44-year-old sergeant was arrested on the same day at 35 Squadron in Belhar, followed by a 28-year-old constable taken into custody at Gugulethu SAPS.”
Both appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on September 17, with the case adjourned to October 3 for a bail application.
Van Wyk mentioned that further investigations led to the arrest of a 33-year-old sergeant in Bellville two days later. On Wednesday, a 38-year-old sergeant was apprehended at Philippi SAPS after being linked to the crime scene through fingerprints.
Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile commended the investigation team for their diligent work, stressing that police officers should uphold the law and protect the public.
“This should serve as a warning to those who think they can misuse state resources for their shameful purposes,” he remarked.
The Western Cape Provincial Community Police (CPF) Board condemned the officers’ conduct. Spokesperson Justin Kumlehn stated, “This disgraceful betrayal of trust not only violates the oath these officers took to serve and protect, but also undermines the essential relationship between the police and the communities they are sworn to protect.”
“Corruption among law enforcement erodes public trust. These officers were entrusted with enforcing the law and protecting citizens, yet their alleged actions have tarnished the badge and jeopardized the integrity of the entire system.”
Kiki Loubser, chairperson of the Llandudno Special Ratings Area, confirmed their awareness of the incident, stating, “We are collaborating with the Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch Community Crime Prevention Unit and SAPS, and we trust that the matter will be addressed appropriately.”
It was revealed that Soldati, previously stationed at the Athlone police station, had his fingerprints discovered at the crime scene and was subsequently added to the charge sheet.
During the court proceedings, Groenewald, Minnaar, and Mafanya were set to apply for bail, but this was postponed due to Soldati being added to the charge sheet. Soldati required additional time to consult with his legal team, leading to the rescheduling of bail hearings to October 10.