A Johannesburg
Metro cop allegedly stopped six American football fans travelling in a minibus,
told them they had overloaded the vehicle and threatened to throw them in jail
... or they could settle the matter amicably on the spot.
In other words the cop wanted payment of a bribe. He suggested that the sum of R4000 would be just the ticket.
The Americans, presumably short of the stipulated amount but at the same time wanting to avoid spending even a short spell in a South African jail, made a counter offer of R1000 which the cop accepted.
He must have thought he was in the top-dollar seats, so to speak; but the Americans were only playing for time. They went and laid a corruption charge at the Sandton police station.
But it seems the Metro Police Department isn’t exactly falling over itself to give the matter due attention.
Already, with the 2010 Soccer World Cup having barely got underway, incidents are mounting, of international journalists and soccer fans falling victim to crime. It's a far cry from the promises of a crime-free World Cup the authorities made in the run-up to the event.
In other words the cop wanted payment of a bribe. He suggested that the sum of R4000 would be just the ticket.
The Americans, presumably short of the stipulated amount but at the same time wanting to avoid spending even a short spell in a South African jail, made a counter offer of R1000 which the cop accepted.
He must have thought he was in the top-dollar seats, so to speak; but the Americans were only playing for time. They went and laid a corruption charge at the Sandton police station.
But it seems the Metro Police Department isn’t exactly falling over itself to give the matter due attention.
Already, with the 2010 Soccer World Cup having barely got underway, incidents are mounting, of international journalists and soccer fans falling victim to crime. It's a far cry from the promises of a crime-free World Cup the authorities made in the run-up to the event.
