Pretoria - She almost fooled them all. Only “she” was actually a he. And, he wasn’t the major-general from the SAPS head office in Pretoria he claimed to be.
In fact, the 24-year-old man arrested in North West for impersonating a female police official on Saturday isn’t in the SAPS at all.
In terms of police protocol, North West police spokesman Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said if a general from another province visits, that general would have to call the provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Zukiswa Mbombo, and alert her of their visit and the reason for it.
If Mbombo is on leave or unavailable, a senior officer serves as acting commissioner.
“The suspect had called a senior officer in the North West (SAPS), demanding to be escorted by Tactical Response Team (TRT) members to a meeting he was to attend, representing national commissioner (General Riah Phiyega),” Ngubane said on Sunday.
However, the “woman” who was later found to be a man after his arrest, called the senior official directly, asking to be transported from Klerksdorp to Potchefstroom.
“The normal protocol was not followed as the senior official was convinced this man was indeed the major-general. This man has a lady-like voice that sounded like the major-general… even his looks, he was wearing make-up,” Ngubane said. He would not name the senior official or major-general involved.
Ngubane said the alleged impostor arrived in Potchefstroom, where he had said he’d be attending a meeting at Potchefstroom Hospital, and informed the TRT members with him that the meeting had been postponed until 2pm.
“Even the team of about three TRT members didn’t suspect anything. When they had picked him up, they saluted and got in the car. Even the crowd he would have spoken to wouldn’t have noticed he wasn’t who he said he was.”
Said Ngubane: “It was only when he asked to be taken to Potchefstroom Dam when the senior official called the provincial commissioner to confirm if he could be taken there, that it was picked up something was amiss. He could’ve gotten away scot free!”
And then, came the big surprise.
“The provincial commissioner told the officer that the major-general being impersonated was actually in his company at that very moment, with the national commissioner,” Ngubane said.
The suspect was taken to Potchefstroom police station, where “she” was interviewed and asked to provide an appointment certificate. “She” failed to do this.
It was also found that the suspect had a history of impersonations and that “she” had been arrested in the Free State for impersonation. “It is also said that at times he claims to be the sister of the late freedom fighter Solomon Mahlangu, identifying himself as ‘Lerato Mahlangu’, Solomon’s younger sister. “He would then be invited as a speaker at church gatherings and other forums and at times would collect money in the name of the Mahlangu family,” Ngubane said.
The man was in police custody and expected to appear in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Police were still trying to verify the man’s true identity as he had first told them he was from Mamelodi, then changed his statement, saying he was from Witbank. Mbombo condemned the incident, saying: “We will not allow people to abuse state resources by pretending to be police officials. We hope the arrest will deter others from doing this serious crime”.
Pretoria News