Suspended provincial traffic cop caught taking bribes

14 October 2016

At approximately 11:15 yesterday morning, 13 October 2016, the City of Cape Town’s Traffic Service received a report of a traffic officer in an SUV who had attempted to solicit a bribe from a motorist along Ottery Road in Philippi.

A member of the Ghost Squad was dispatched to investigate and on reaching the scene found the ‘officer’, dressed in full Provincial Traffic uniform, interviewing another motorist. The officer claimed that he had been booked off sick, but had noticed the vehicle driving erratically and decided to take action.

However, further investigation by Traffic Services revealed that the man was currently on suspension from the Provincial Traffic Department in Knysna due to substance abuse issues. The suspect was subsequently arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer. More charges will likely be brought against him because since the arrest, he has been linked to a total of five similar cases.

"It looks likely from the circumstances described above that the officer in question had been soliciting bribes in order to finance his drug habit. The Safety and Security Directorate is appalled by his actions as he has brought shame to his former colleagues in the enforcement fraternity. We are thus very pleased that we were able to bring him to justice and protect motorists from further exploitation.

That anyone would go to such lengths, forgoing opportunities for counselling and rehabilitation in order to continue taking drugs, speaks to the powerful hold that drugs can have on their victims and illustrates clearly how they corrupt society. We would therefore like to encourage residents with any information on drug-related activities to report this to drug.stop@capetown.gov.za" Alderman JP SmithCity Mayoral Committee Member: Safety and Security

End

Published by: