An officer stopped a truck moments before it was hijacked on the N1 North just outside Pretoria – and it was all caught on camera.

The video has gone viral and has raised the suspicion that corrupt officers aid and abet criminals.

In the video, an officer on a motorcycle flags down the truck driver and indicates the truck should pull over. Moments after the truck stops, a grey or white Mitsubishi Mirage stops in front of it.

According to the information on the video, the incident happened on March 20 at around 16:30.

One man gets out, and in the right-hand corner, you can see the officer on the motorcycle driving away with flashing lights. The Mitsubishi Mirage reverses backward. 

By this time, the driver has already been ambushed by two men and taken to the Mirage. 

Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson Sello Maremane urges motorists to be vigilant and cautious when stopped by law enforcement officials on the road. 

Maremane says the Gauteng Traffic Department does not employ the official seen in the video. 

“It is against this background that we appeal to our motorists to be vigilant and be cautious when law enforcement officials stop them.” 

Maremane adds it is suspected that this could be a bogus traffic officer. 

“In terms of National Road Traffic Act [93 of 1996] it is illegal for anyone to impersonate the duties of a traffic officer. Anyone found guilty of such offence may face imprisonment of up to seven years without the option of [a] fine.” 

The following advice is thus offered to motorists when stopped by law enforcement officials: 

• Motorists have the right to demand to see the appointment certificate issued to the officer who stopped them. The appointment certificate must depict the officer’s full name and surname as well as the authority that employed them.
• Traffic officers must wear a name tag that identifies them at all times when stopping vehicles.
• Members of the public are still obliged to stop in terms of the law when they are stopped by appointed traffic officers.
• Should an officer refuse to produce their appointment certificate to the motorist who has been stopped, motorists are allowed to speed off and report such conduct to both the police and the authority who appointed them.

He adds that, in a separate incident, people who impersonated traffic officers were recently been arrested. 

“Members of the public are advised to call us at 0800 22 88 27 to verify the authenticity of traffic officers in the employment of our department. The incident seen on the video will be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators will be brought to book.”

Truck Hijacking outside Pretoria.

WATCH: Traffic cops pulls the driver over…and hijackers move in.

There has always been suspicious that corrupt and cops aid and abet criminals.#CrimeWatch pic.twitter.com/rtGfvQaa22

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) May 1, 2024