4 traffic cops nabbed as they flee after hijacking
vehicle
10 July 2014 8:47
Four traffic officers have
been arrested in Eldorado Park in the south of Johannesburg, said the Road
Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).
The group was arrested for
robbery, racketeering and theft, RTMC spokesperson Thato Mosena said yesterday.
Police had received a
tip-off about a hijacked vehicle.
“When the vehicle was
cornered, two of the occupants in the alleged hijacked vehicle disembarked and
ran into [a RTMC] patrol vehicle and sped off,” said Mosena.
Police pursued the marked
RTMC vehicle until it was cornered. It had four occupants inside.
“They then discovered that
all occupants were law enforcement officers attached to the RTMC,” Mosena said.
The police disarmed the
traffic officers and arrested them.
Meanwhile, an amount of R9
000 was found in a plastic bag in the abandoned hijacked vehicle.
RTMC CEO Makhosini Msibi
said they did not tolerate corruption and would ensure that action was taken
against those involved.
“We place it on record that
we reject such behaviour with the contempt it deserves and we will do all in
our might to root out corrupt members within our service,” said Msibi.
“We sincerely apologise to
all and sundry who believe and still [have] confidence in our institution,” he
said.
Transport Minister Dipuo
Peters said the law should take its course.
“We need men and women of
integrity to carry out the task of saving people’s lives on our roads. There’s
no room for criminal elements in the service,” said Peters.
She said criminals should
not be allowed to masquerade as civil servants in uniform.
Peters called for an audit
of the calibre of officers attached to the country’s traffic police.
- Sapa
