Sidumisile Mabena
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
SOUTH African security agents on Monday arrested a fugitive from Benin who was allegedly plotting to enter Zimbabwe illegally through a crossing point along the Limpopo River before proceeding to Europe.
Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi (45), who is wanted in Benin for crimes against the State linked to an alleged failed coup attempt in December last year, was arrested together with his son, Khonsou Seba Capo Chichi (18), and their alleged facilitator, François van der Merwe.
The trio was arrested at a shopping centre in Pretoria following an alleged arrangement in which they were to pay R250 000 for assistance to cross illegally into Zimbabwe through the Limpopo River.
During the operation, authorities recovered R318 000 in cash and several cellphones.
South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale confirmed the arrests, saying the three appeared briefly before the Brooklyn Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
“They briefly appeared in court following their arrest on 13 April 2026 in an intelligence-driven operation in Brooklyn by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s Crimes Against the State unit, assisted by the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section and Crime Intelligence’s Counter Terrorism Unit based at head office,” said Col Mogale.
The charges relate to allegations of facilitating illegal movement into Zimbabwe through the Limpopo River.
“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 them to move across the Limpopo River into Zimbabwe, with the intention to further proceed to Europe,” she said.
Preliminary investigations, according to Col Mogale, revealed that Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi is allegedly a wanted fugitive in both France and Benin for crimes against the State.
She said the Hawks, with the assistance of Interpol, confirmed that Capo Chichi was wanted in Benin in relation to national security offences.
The three accused have been remanded in custody, with extradition proceedings now underway.
Online Reporter