Two KZN cops arrested for business robbery and kidnapping

Two police officers were arrested in Pongola, northern KwaZulu-Natal, for alleged business robbery and kidnapping, the MEC for transport, community safety and liaison said on Tuesday.

In a statement Willies Mchunu said he was concerned at the arrest of two police officers aged 35 and 44, allegedly for business robbery and kidnapping.

"It is, indeed, of grave concern if there are suggestions that police officers, the very people who are charged with maintaining law and order, are now involved in undermining the law," he said in a statement.

"We welcome the arrests of the two officers. We have said time and again that the majority of people who are serving in the police service are men and women of high integrity. Equally, we have accepted that there are those few within the force who are rotten apples."

It is alleged that two months back security guards were confronted by a group of men who forced them into a taxi and drove off with them.

They tied them up with cable ties and left them in a sugar-cane field before returning to the shop they were guarding, the department said.

It is alleged the men tried to break the safe in the shop but failed. They allegedly stole five radios and cigarettes before fleeing. A case of business robbery was reported and opened at the Pongola Police Station, said the department.

On December 14, two men aged 44 and 45 were arrested for the business robbery and kidnapping. They appeared in the Pongola Magistrate's Court on December 15.

The case was postponed to February 19.

The department said that warrants of arrest were then obtained when police discovered that two police officers were allegedly part of the group that robbed the store.

The officers are expected to appear in court again soon. More arrests are expected.

Mchunu said the law should take its course without fear or favour.

"However, we wish to caution members of the public not to assume that all police officers are corrupt," he said.

"Our message is clear. Let us work with those police officers who are law-abiding and serving with integrity. Equally, let us expose and isolate those who are not trustworthy and corrupt."