Cape Town officers arrested for spaza shop extortion and cigarette theft

Two City of Cape Town Law Enforcement officers have been arrested for allegedly extorting cash from foreign-owned spaza shops and stealing cigarettes worth more than R600 000 during one of the incidents.

The officers, attached to the City’s Metal Theft Unit, were taken into custody on Tuesday by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team, working with the City’s Safety and Security Information Management Services (SSIMS).

City law enforcement spokesperson, Wayne Dyason confirmed the arrests, saying the pair were held on charges of extortion. “The two officers stationed at the Metal Theft Unit were arrested amid an investigation by our Safety and Security Information Management Service (SSIMS) unit, in collaboration with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (HAWKS),” Dyason said.

Dyason added the alleged incidents date back to January. “It is understood that during the incidents, which date back to January 2025, the officers had allegedly extorted money from spaza shop owners. Warrants were subsequently issued for their arrests.”

Dyason said the City would act decisively. “The Safety and Security Directorate is committed to rooting out corrupt and criminal elements that have infiltrated our enforcement services. We will not hesitate to investigate and take the required action when wrongdoing is uncovered.”

He confirmed that both officers will be suspended. “This matter is also being dealt with in terms of City policies and processes, and we can confirm they will be suspended as the disciplinary process is underway.”

Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani said the officers aged 36 and 41 were arrested on Tuesday and will appear in the Cape Town Regional Court on Wednesday on charges of corruption, extortion and business robbery.

“It is believed that the officers were targeting foreign nationals spaza shops requesting their asylum documentation,” Hani said. “With or without the documents the officers will still demand money. On different occasions the victims paid an amount of R5000 and R6000.”

Hani said the investigation uncovered a major theft during the arrest of one of the victims. “Further, the investigation revealed that during an arrest of one of the victims the suspects managed to steal cigarettes out of the victim’s vehicle to the value of over R600 000 while the victim was being processed at Phillipi East police station.”

Hani confirmed the warrants were obtained through the courts. “Following the investigation, the team applied for the warrants of arrest which was subsequently granted by the court.”

Hani said this was not the first time the officers had been arrested. “It is reported that the two suspects were previously arrested in May 2025 on similar charges and they were subsequently released on bail.”

Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.

Cape Argus