Just when you thought South Africa had run out of plot twists, Limpopo said: “Hold my Surf”.
In the cleanest scandal of the year, two SAPS officers and a police station cleaner have been bust for looting washing powder from a crashed delivery truck – and yes, they used a marked police van as their getaway car.
Because nothing says “totally not suspicious” like driving off with a boot full of OMO while your blue lights are flashing.
Detergent
According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba (probably resisting the urge to facepalm), the trio went full telenovela in Modimolle when they allegedly decided to swap crime-fighting for powder-snatching.
The stolen goods?
Recovered from one of the officer’s homes. Because, of course, where else would you hide industrial quantities of detergent?
It gets better – the station cleaner was in on it too. Because teamwork makes the dream (or in this case, the laundry) work.
All three appeared in court on Monday, where they reportedly came clean. The case was postponed to Friday, 25 July for a formal bail application.
SAPS top brass were understandably not amused.
Limpopo Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe condemned the act, calling it a betrayal of public trust. Translation: “Are you flipping kidding me?”
Moral of the story?
If you’re gonna commit a crime, maybe don’t use a SAPS van with your badge number on it – and definitely don’t make it about washing powder.
The accused are Warrant Officer SF Ndlovu (55), Warrant Officer L Boya (49) and Cleaner RL Moima (50).
What’s the strangest case of theft you’ve ever heard?
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