WATCH: Gauteng motorist films traffic cop allegedly demanding R50 bribe
A Gauteng motorist alleges he was extorted by an Ekurhuleni traffic officer who demanded a bribe along a public road.
The victim, who spoke to IOL on condition of anonymity, claims the officer demanded "tax" to let him go after a questionable inspection of his vehicle's engine, with the entire incident reportedly captured on video.
The incident occurred on September 5 last week when the motorist and his wife were driving along Albertina Sisulu Road, heading toward the N12 highway. The couple, who were on their way home after buying goods in the Johannesburg CBD, were pulled over by the officer.
The motorist claims the officer demanded "tax" to let him go after a questionable inspection of his vehicle's engine, with the entire incident reportedly captured on video.
Image: Screengrab
According to the motorist's account, the officer requested his driver's licence, passport, and traffic register. After inspecting the documents, the officer instructed him to open the vehicle's bonnet. Following a brief inspection of the engine, the officer claimed the engine had oil and then stated that the motorist had to "pay tax" to be allowed to leave.
The motorist alleged that the traffic officer was withholding his documents.
"My car wasn't washed properly, that is why there was some oil on the engine. The traffic officer said I had to pay tax for him to let me go, while he was still holding my documents. I asked him what the tax was, and he said that shows we are not willing to go yet. Then he left us and went to stop other cars and attend to them," the motorist told IOL.
"We sat there for about 15 minutes. He was busy with other cars, and that is when we came up with the plan to record him, while handing him the R50 on video. I was rushing somewhere, and the delay was inconveniencing me and my wife.
IOL has reached out to the City of Ekurhuleni, and an investigation has been initiated by the city.
Earlier this year, IOL reported that a 47-year-old former police constable, Eric Ellias Sibanyoni, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of fraud, corruption, and theft for the duration of the sentence's suspension.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, said Sibanyoni, who was attached to Middelburg Flying Squad, sacrificed his job by accepting gratification from motorists on the N4 freeway around Wonderfontein in Mpumalanga.
Provincial Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, said Sibanyoni's unethical activities were brought to light by a tourist who was victimised in 2019.
"Upon receiving information, a team comprised of the Hawks' Nelspruit-based Serious Corruption Investigation, Crime Intelligence, and Road Traffic Management Corporation was assembled. The team conducted observation, which was later operationalised. The operation led to the arrest of the suspect four months after the complaint was registered with the authorities," said Nkosi.
"Investigation proved that Sibanyoni was responsible for intentionally benefiting from unethical behavior that is contradictory to the South African Police Service's code of conduct after receiving R100 gratification for looking the other way and not fulfilling his duty."
Nkosi said on a balance of probabilities, Sibanyoni was dismissed from the SAPS after an internal departmental procedure was conducted.
The criminal case against Sibanyoni was finalised in February, where the former police officer was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Belfast Magistrate's Court.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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