The public have been warned to be cautious when approaching roadblocks after a man was robbed by nine men posing as police and soldiers at a roadblock in Mpumalanga, police said on Friday.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Izak van Zyl said Philemon Sibeko, 40, was carrying a load of cigarettes in his truck when he came to a roadblock near Machadodorp on Wednesday morning.
It was manned by six men in police uniforms, two in South African National Defence Force uniforms and one dressed as a traffic officer. Two South African Police Service vehicles, one marked "Crime Prevention," were parked on the side of the road.
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When Sibeko stopped, the supposed officials overpowered him and tied him up with cable ties and drove him to Hexa Rosa farm near Bethal, where they left him.
They drove off with his vehicle and the cigarettes valued at R310 000.
Van Zyl said the public should keep an eye open for false uniforms or road signs.
"The public is also encouraged to ask officials for appointment certificates. The genuineness of the appointment certificate is quite obvious."
The certificate is the size of a credit card. It has a colour photograph of the official on the card, the person's rank, date of appointment, and the signature of the national police commissioner on it.
Van Zyl said if a person felt the roadblock was false they should go to the nearest police station or phone the police to find out for sure. - Sapa
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