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Two men have been arrested for impersonating police officers in a suspected protection racket targeting businesses in and around Johannesburg.
Police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said the two, aged 43 and 49, were arrested in Houghton on Wednesday following two weeks of surveillance.
She said the arrests were made by the national anti-kidnapping task team working with Johannesburg metro police and private security firms.
Mathe said the two were allegedly posing as police officers and extorting ‘protection fees’ from business owners.
Police seized R16 000, several cell phones, an unlicensed firearm as well as a replica firearm during the operation.
One of the suspects had a SAPS appointment card in his possession.
Mathe said the two would make their first court appearance on Friday.
