The acting Chief of Police for the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), Basil Nkhwashu, has issued a directive encouraging motorists to “fight possible corruption by Tshwane Metro Police Department officers” by recording all their interactions with the officials through pictures and videos.
Additionally, citizens who are pulled over have a right to ask the traffic official for their appointment certificate which must be on their person, as this is the “card identifying them as a police officer,” said Nkhwashu.
This aims to “make our officers aware of the importance of always conducting themselves ethically, being fair, and respecting the rights of others.”
See something, say something
Motorists who were victims of unethical behaviour from TMPD officials are motivated to report the incident via one of three channels:
- Open a criminal case at the nearest police station
- Report the matter to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) at [email protected].
- Report the matter to the TMPD Integrity Unit on 083 657 2998 to enable an internal investigation into the conduct.
“Considering the number of complaints the City has been receiving with regard to extortion, corruption, and other cases of misconduct by TMPD officers, this directive is long overdue,” said Tebatso Berlinton, Tshwane MMC for Community Safety.
“I welcome this initiative by the acting Chief and will continue to support him in implementing any measures to address this scourge.”
Just last week, a trio of TMPD officers was in the Pretoria Magistrates Court facing charges of extortion, robbery, kidnapping, and intimidation for an incident that took place in September 2022, and they also have five other charges currently against them, AfriForum reports.
In the most recent case, the officials were alleged to have pulled over a motorist who had his girlfriend and 10-year-old daughter in the car and accused him of speeding
“The officers allegedly disarmed him of his personal firearm, before forcing him under threat of arrest to withdraw cash from an ATM at a petrol station in Rigel Avenue in Pretoria,” said AfriForum.
“After this was done, the officers allegedly forced the man into the back of the police van and drove him to a desolate area, where he handed over the R4,000 he had just withdrawn and they robbed him of a further R1,000 from his wallet.”
Despite being charged on multiple accounts and being due back in court on 18 July, all three officers remain on duty today.
Keyword: Fight traffic police corruption by recording everything – TMPD