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10 months ago
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A Cape Town police officer has been charged with intimidation and extortion.
- A police officer has been granted R5 000 bail after he was arrested for allegedly demanding payments from a spaza shop owner in Kraaifontein.
- Wilford Qikwa, a captain at the Kraaifontein police station, allegedly went back to the shop owner and demanded he withdraw his complaint.
- The officer was warned to not make any contact with the complainant.
A Cape Town police officer who was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly demanding payments from a Kraaifontein spaza shop owner has been released on R5 000 bail.
Captain Wilford Qikwa, 55, appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrate's Court on Friday, where he was charged with intimidation and extortion.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the accused was granted bail with the condition that he must not contact the complainant.
"His case was postponed to 19 February 2024 for further investigation," added Ntabazalila.
Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie said Qikwa allegedly received a substantial payment in July from the spaza shop owner in exchange for operating his business without interference.
Pojie added:
It is further alleged that the officer again visited the owner during October, demanding numerous payments, of which the owner paid a certain amount to him to keep his business open for operations.
According to the police, the spaza shop owner lodged a complaint at the Kraaifontein police station, where a criminal investigation against Qikwa ensued.
"When the officer became aware of the case against him, he went back and threatened the complainant to withdraw the criminal case against him.
"This matter was also reported to the local police in aggravation of the extortion case, already under investigation," said Pojie.
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He added the case was referred to the Director of Public Prosecution on Tuesday, where a decision was made to charge Qikwa with extortion and intimidation.
"As a result, a warrant for the arrest of the officer was issued and executed on Wednesday at the officer's workplace," said Pojie.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile issued a warning to officers that concerted efforts to fight corruption within the police would continue to restore their reputation and image.
He encouraged the public to report all forms of corruption and extortion to the extortion hotline at 0800 31 44 44 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
