Untagged officer orders ‘no photo’
JMPD's answer to the Groot Krokkedil, a name tagless officer who signed two traffic tickets C.K. Rakobane, Force number: 30029968. Picture by ANDREW MCGILL
By WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN
KEMPTON Park motorist Andrew McGill claims his reward for photographing a Johannesburg Metro Police Department officer, who was not wearing a name tag, was another R500 fine for “failure to stop”.
“On 3 January, a lone Metro Police officer tailgated me, and then issued me a R500 fine for ‘obstructing his right of way’.
“He wore no name tag, and would not tell me his name, so I took a few photographs of him. He then informed me I was not allowed to photograph him.
“At his insistence I deleted the photo, as he offered to confiscate my phone,” said McGill.
McGill said the officer who signed the ticket – CK Rakobane, force number: 30029968 – then drove off without putting on his seat belt.
JMPD spokesman Wayne Minnaar said traffic officers had the right to confiscate cameras or cell- phones if they had not given permission to be photographed.
“No person is allowed to be photographed if he doesn’t want to be. That is the law as he/she has the right to privacy,” Minnaar said.
Meanwhile, Minnaar admitted that Johannesburg motorist Ryan Rabie was pulled over last week. But he said the two vehicles in front of Rabie were pulled over because they entered a bus lane. “Rabie unfortunately gave us a number with one wrong digit,” he said.