Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
SOUTH African security agents on Monday arrested a fugitive from Benin while plotting to leave that country for Zimbabwe through an illegal crossing point at the Limpopo River.
He intended to further leave Zimbabwe illegally while on a planned mission to escape to Europe.
Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi (45) is wanted in Benin for plotting a failed coup in that country in December last year.
Capo Chichi, widely known as Kémi Séba, was arrested along with his son Khonsou Seba Capo Chichi (18) and their facilitator, François van der Merwe.
The trio were arrested at a shopping centre in Pretoria following a deal in which they were to pay R250 000 to gain access into Zimbabwe through an illegal crossing point at the Limpopo River.
A total of R318 000 and several cellphones were recovered from them during the arrest.
South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (HAWKS) spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the trio briefly appeared in the Brooklyn Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where the matter was postponed to April 20.
“They briefly appeared in court following their arrest on April 13, 2026, in an intelligence driven operation in Brooklyn by the members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s Crimes Against the State assisted by the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section and Crime Intelligence’s Counter Terrorism based in the Head Office, for allegations relating to facilitation of illegal movement into Zimbabwe through the Limpopo River,” said Col Mogale.
“The accused, a father and son duo, as well as the facilitator, were nabbed in a sting operation at a shopping centre in Pretoria when the multi-disciplinary team followed up on information received.
“The intelligence purported that the duo was being assisted by an individual who had been paid approximately R250 000 to assist the duo to move across the Limpopo river into Zimbabwe with the intention to further proceed to Europe”.
She said preliminary investigations have revealed that the Capo Chichi is alleged to be a wanted fugitive in France and Benin for criminal activities relating to crimes against the state.
Col Mogale said the Hawks, through the assistance of Interpol, had established that Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi was a wanted in Benin in relation to crimes against the state.
She said the trio were remanded in custody with subsequent extradition processes underway.
