Scammers pose as officers, con residents for cash
Later that week, Mazhande was allegedly called by the same police officer, cited as Brigadier Maduna, who ordered that the store now close at 17:00.
On 9 May, Maduna allegedly arrived at the store just before 18:00 and chased out all the customers and forced the manager to close the store.
This happened again on 10 May, only this time it was two other police officers, who said they were acting under the direction of a Captain Pieterse.
Mazhande then attempted to hand a lawyer’s letter to Maduna, which did not happen because he was not at the police station at the time.
“On 11 May, at approximately 12:00, a Captain Theron, accompanied by members of the SAPS, as well as the army, came to the store and ordered that the shop closes by 17:00.”
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According to Mazhande, Theron would not give the order in writing and said the action would be included in the robbery docket.
“Given the contingent of armed officers that had arrived at the shop, the threats of charges being laid against me and/or my staff, as well as the general anxiety of the intimidation tactics by police, I decided to close the store at 19:00 that evening and, if members of the SAPS arrived at the store to force its closure, then I would comply.”
Court order
The court ordered that Brigadier Maduna, Captain Pieterse and Captain Theron be interdicted and restrained from unlawfully interfering in Mazhande’s business.
The court also directed that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) investigate the actions of the police officers.
