A brazen robbery at a Crime Intelligence Captive Office in East London, Eastern Cape, has left law enforcement officials reeling.
On Friday, a lone robber, identifying himself only as "Giyese," walked into the office, claiming an appointment with crime intelligence officer Ntombekhaya August. Remarkably, he was escorted to her office without any security checks.
Minutes later, he calmly exited the building, carrying a bag containing R1.3 million in cash. The incident, which is under investigation by the Hawks' Crimes Against the State Unit, was only reported later by August herself.
A crime report, obtained by City Press, details the audacious robbery: "Immediately after they entered her [August's] office, the African male showed her a firearm on his waist, gave her a bag and demanded money. He mentioned that if she told anyone he will kill her family."
The report further notes: "A case of armed robbery has been opened and it is [being] investigated by the Crime Against the State [unit]. Thirteen (13) cellphones of CI [crime intelligence] members that were present were taken to be downloaded by a designated forensic investigator with their consent."
The seizure of the cellphones suggests a thorough investigation into potential complicity or lapses in security.
This incident is not an isolated case. City Press reported that a similar incident occurred last year at the unit's Randburg office, where R2 million disappeared without any signs of forced entry or theft. These incidents highlight significant vulnerabilities within Crime Intelligence offices, which routinely handle substantial sums of cash used to pay informants. These offices, located nationwide, serve as crucial hubs for intelligence gathering, feeding information to the police and other security agencies.
The Crime Intelligence unit operates on an annual budget of approximately R536 million. However, the secrecy surrounding informant payments escapes detailed financial scrutiny, creating opportunities for exploitation. Past scandals have exposed attempts to misappropriate funds, including a R45 million bid for cellphone interception equipment by an ANC faction opposed to Cyril Ramaphosa's election as party leader in 2017.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe responded to the recent incidents: "The acting National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili has assigned a special task team led by Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo to look into and probe incidents of theft of money at crime intelligence offices.
"These incidents have also been referred to the Hawks. Maximum resources and capacity have been deployed to look into these cases. This is a very sensitive environment of the SAPS and it is quite disturbing to note such incidents taking place. Those who are found to have had a hand in these incidents will be dealt with accordingly."
. The audacity of the East London robbery, coupled with the previous Randburg incident, raises serious concerns about security protocols and internal controls within the Crime Intelligence unit. The investigation promises to shed light on potential weaknesses and systemic issues within the organisation.
