Man arrested after trying to bribe a traffic cop in Vryheid
“Whether he had tried to give the officer R10 or a biscuit, the man would have still been arrested and charged in the same manner. A bribe is a bribe, and we do not take the matter lightly."
A 32-year old man spent the night in a prison cell after trying to bribe a traffic officer at a roadblock held at the Bloodriver crossing.
The man is believed to have been driving an unroadworthy vehicle and attempted to pay the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) officer who had pulled him over, R200 to let him drive free, but the officer was not having it.
“The man seems to have known that his car was not fit to be driven on the road, as I was told that he immediately slid the R200 into the officer’s hands as he was trying to remove the car’s license disc. The officer was really appalled by this gesture and proceeded to handcuff the man,” explained acting chief inspector for the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), Nkanyiso Ndlazi.
ALSO READ: Vryheid’s coolest cop responds to viral video that made him famous
Mr Ndlazi said that the man was charged with bribery and defeating the ends of justice.
“Whether he had tried to give the officer R10 or a biscuit, the man would have still been arrested and charged in the same manner. A bribe is a bribe, and we do not take the matter lightly. The same applies to traffic officers found guilty of taking bribes, they will be criminally charged,” said Mr Ndlazi.
On what a person should do if a traffic official attempts to solicit a bribe, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) Regional Commander, Andre Boone, said that it was important to note the specific organisation the traffic official is from, in order to make the investigation easier.
“A person should take note of the officer’s name and surname, which are usually visible on their name-tag. Noting their vehicle’s registration number could also be effective as the investigators would be able to track down which officers were using the vehicle in question at the given day and time,” he explained.
ALSO READ: Remembering Vryheid Public Safety Officer, Jan Markwat
Officer Boone said that it is important for motorists to understand that, if a traffic officer pulls you over, they are doing it for a reason and it is best to obey.
“The officer is allowed to ask for your license and any other form of identification if you cannot provide your license. In turn, a motorist is allowed to ask an officer if they can see his/her appointment card if they feel unsure that the person really is a traffic official,” he explained.
Officer Boone said that his team was taking the issue of road safety very seriously and would be showing zero tolerance to motorists not adhering to the rules of the road. Mr Ndlazi closed off by saying that no member of the public should ever let a traffic officer pressure them into paying a bribe. “Do not even consider giving a traffic officer a bribe. Simply tell them that they should just write that ticket or let you go. These people already get paid to do their jobs. They can’t be demanding money from you,” he said.
Get regular news updates. Follow the Vryheid Herald on Facebook and Twitter.
Got news? Email estella@caxton.co.za or Whatsapp 0792567570.
