A female victim, whose identity remains protected for safety reasons, suffered a financial loss of R41,760 as a result of a scam carried out behind bars.
The victim was previously arrested in connection with a murder case reported in 2006. All charges related to that case were subsequently withdrawn. However, in September 2022, she received a call from an individual claiming to be Captain Monama of the Hawks, who falsely informed her that the case had been reopened and a warrant for her arrest had been issued.
The scammer demanded R25,000 to prevent her arrest and assured her he would destroy evidence against her. Falling victim to the deception, she paid the amount in two instalments.
Two months later, she received a follow-up call from the same caller and phone number. He claimed that the initial agreement had gone awry because a colleague, Detective Wessels, had discovered she had not yet been arrested. The caller, who was speaking from a prison cell, identified as Bonginkosi Masango, then demanded additional money to 'cool down' Detective Wessels.
In 2024, the victim formally reported the incident by registering a case with Siyabuswa SAPS.
The case was subsequently referred to the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team based in Middelburg. Through diligent investigative work, the team linked Masango to the scam following the arrest of his 28-year-old cousin, Koosnight Mahlangu, on Wednesday, 3 September 2025.
Investigations revealed that Bonginkosi Masango is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted of a 2015 rape case.
Masango (29) and Mahlangu appeared before Mdutjane Magistrate’s Court in Siyabuswa today, Thursday, 4 September 2025. Mahlangu was released on R1,000 bail, while Masango was remanded in custody. Both individuals are scheduled to appear again before Mdutjane Regional Court on 6 October 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, spokesperson for the DPCI, commented: “This operation highlights the relentless efforts of our team in combatting police impersonation scams. Such crimes tarnish the image of law enforcement and cause considerable harm to innocent victims. We believe that today’s arrests could lead to the resolution of other unresolved cases involving similar schemes. We urge the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity involving impersonators claiming to be police officers.”
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