64-Year-Old Serial Robber Who Posed as Cop Arrested After 42 Airport HeistsPolice ‘Broken the Back of Syndicate’

A 64-year-old man linked to at least 42 armed robberies near OR Tambo International Airport has been arrestedfinally halting a crime spree that stretched back decades.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the arrest on Saturday, following an investigation triggered by the robbery of three high-ranking senior police officials from an African country.

The Trigger

The three senior officers were making their way to the airport in an e-hailing service on Saturday afternoon when their vehicle was pulled over by four males in a silver Suzuki Swift.

Once the driver stopped on the side of the R24 near the Barbara off-ramp, the men posed as police officers and robbed the general and his two colleagues of money, watches, and cellphones.

The Takedown

Within hours, police traced the vehicle and arrested the serial robber. The Suzuki Swift was impounded.

But the deeper investigation revealed a staggering history.

Mathe said police found that the suspect has 42 other cases where he was arrested and charged for:

• Armed robbery

• Possession of an unlicensed firearm

• Fraud

• Impersonating a police officer

“These cases date as far back as 1998,” Mathe said.

The Syndicate

Police believe they have “broken the back of a syndicate” that has been involved in a spate of airport robberies.

The suspect will appear before the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.

The Unanswered Question

Mathe posed the question that will now be central to the investigation: “An investigation is also underway to ascertain how a serial robber of this nature is still roaming the streets of SA and not convicted and serving time in a jail cell.”

How does a man linked to 42 crimes, spanning nearly three decades, remain free? That question now demands an answer.

The Hunt Continues

Police are still searching for three other suspects involved in the robbery. The syndicate may be broken, but not all its members are behind barsyet.

The Bottom Line

A 64-year-old career criminal, posing as a cop, robbing victimsincluding actual police generalsfor nearly 30 years. His arrest is a victory. But the question of how he evaded justice for so long is a stain that must now be examined.

{Source: Citizen}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com