A Khayelitsha policeman has been arrested for robbing a Bellville shopkeeper with his service pistol.
The 35-year-old constable is alleged to have been part of a gang of three who held up the shop in Voortrekker Road on Wednesday September 21, at 8.30pm.
They were nabbed soon after by a lone Metro police officer.
According to an SAPS statement, two men entered the shop on the pretext of buying cigarettes.
As the shopkeeper served them, a third man came in and pointed a gun at him, demanding money.
The owner handed over cash and the robbers fled in a VW Golf.
But the shopkeeper followed them and flagged down a Metro police officer driving along the R300.
The City of Cape Town said their officer from the Metro Police Camera Response Unit pursued the VW Golf, pulled the vehicle over and questioned the suspects while waiting for back-up.
The Metro officer confiscated the constable’s service pistol and ammunition, and R2095 was seized as evidence.
The suspects were due to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on a charge of business robbery.
JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security, praised the “high-calibre police work” of the Metro police officer.
The City is due to honour its officers at an awards ceremony in November.
It’s been a tough time for the police service as several of their own have been caught for crime over the last few weeks.
A Parow constable, Raymond Maarman, and two cops from Macassar and Strand were arrested on Wednesday September 14, on charges of corruption, dealing in drugs, possession of drugs and stolen property.
A week later, two sergeants, also from Strand SAPS, were arrested on charges of corruption and being in possession of suspected stolen goods.
Provincial police have undertaken the intelligence-driven operation, Project Elephant, to root out corruption in their ranks.
“Project Elephant has not concluded as yet, and the possibility of more arrests is not ruled out,” a SAPS statement said last week.