A Limpopo woman was allegedly tricked into withdrawing R61,000 after a man falsely claimed someone was trying to scam her using what appeared to be traditional medicine, before two other men posing as police officers offered to assist her.
Police have since arrested two men, aged 35 and 42, who allegedly robbed a woman after impersonating police officers in Polokwane.
The incident occurred in the Polokwane CBD on Friday, August 21, 2026.
Limpopo provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the victim was from Botlokwa village.
She was approached on Landros Mare Street by a man who falsely claimed that someone was trying to scam her out of money using what appeared to be traditional medicine.
“Two other men then allegedly approached her, impersonated police officials and offered to assist her,” Ledwaba said.
The suspects allegedly took the woman to Polokwane Police Station. They entered the Community Service Centre before returning shortly afterwards and questioning her about the money in her bank accounts.
After she disclosed that she had substantial funds in two accounts, the men allegedly convinced her to withdraw money to protect it from the supposed scam.
Ledwaba said the suspects took her to Savannah Mall, where she withdrew R61,000. The money was allegedly placed in an envelope.
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The suspects then accompanied her to another bank branch, where she was unable to withdraw the remaining funds because an appointment was required. She made an appointment to return the following day.
The suspects allegedly assured her that the R61,000 would be kept safely at the police station.
On Saturday, the woman returned to the police station with her children to enquire about the alleged officials and her money. She then discovered that she had been robbed and that the men were not police officers.
An investigation linked the suspects to the Mahwelereng area outside Mokopane.
During an intelligence-led tactical operation, police spotted the suspects travelling in a white Toyota Vitz along Landros Mare Street near an Engen garage.
Ledwaba said the suspects allegedly attempted to evade police when they were stopped, resulting in a pursuit. They were subsequently cornered and arrested near Polokwane Provincial Hospital.
The vehicle was confiscated for further investigation.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects may be operating in areas including Bela-Bela, Modimolle, Lephalale and Polokwane,” Ledwaba said.
“Investigations are continuing to establish whether they can be linked to other similar cases.”
The suspects are expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Monday, August 24. They face charges of robbery and impersonating police officials. Additional charges may be added as the investigation progresses.
Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Petrus Scheepers welcomed the swift arrests and commended detectives for the successful intelligence-led operation.
Scheepers warned the public to remain vigilant and never hand over cash, bank cards or banking information to people claiming to be police officials without first verifying their identities.
He also appealed to other victims who may have fallen prey to the same modus operandi to come forward and report their cases to police. Such information could assist investigators in linking the suspects to other crimes.
“Members of the public are reminded that legitimate police officials will never instruct victims to withdraw money and hand it over to them for ‘safekeeping’ or to prevent an alleged scam,” Scheepers said.
