No mercy for 4-year-old

A Mogale City Traffic officer showed no mercy when he threatened a female driver – with a four-year-old child in the car – that he was going to arrest her because of an outstanding R200 traffic fine .

Telana Coetzer with her four-year-old niece in the vehicle was on her way home from work when she came across a traffic roadblock on the R28. An officer signalled her to pull over.

He informed Coetzer of an outstanding fine and a warrant for her arrest.

Coetzer claimed she admitted to the offence and cooperated with the officer.

“You must pay now,” the officer told Coetzer, but she did not have any money on her at the time.

It is alleged that he then said someone must bring her the money or else she would be arrested.

Coetzer asked the officer to escort her to her home, which was close by, to drop off the toddler before taking her into custody.

He replied rudely that he was not allowed to do so and insisted she paid the R200 or else be arrested.

Coetzer pleaded with the officer to consider the safety of the child, after which he replied; “It is not my problem, she can go to jail with you.”

A shocked Coetzer insisted to see the warrant for her arrest and the officer walked to the command station in the caravan a few metres away.

“If you throw your warrant, I will arrest you,” he continued to threaten Coetzer, who claimed she did not resist.

Luckily a higher-ranked officer by the name of Officer Molefe stepped in after hearing the commotion.

After explaining to Molefe that she did not have any money on her, and that she was not resisting arrest but was worried about the 4-year-old child who already was traumatised, Molefe sorted out the problem within minutes.

Coetzer then signed an agreement and has settled the matter since.

“I would like to thank officer Molefe who assisted me and helped to calm down my traumatised niece who was in the car at the time of the incident.”