Limpopo police have arrested a man allegedly masquerading as a municipal employee and demanding R500 000 from contractors in return for a R305 million water project.

Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the 57-year-old suspect was arrested by the provincial Anti-Corruption Unit on Friday.

Ledwaba said on Sunday the man had identified himself as an employee of the Sekhukhune Municipality and demanded the cash in return for a multi-million rand water reticulation project intended for seven villages in the District of Sekhukhune.

He said after police were alerted, an operation was set up and the suspect was arrested in Polokwane after he collected the money.

The man is scheduled to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Monday

–News24 (Eric Mashaba)