Cape Town — A training traffic police officer in Gauteng faces criminal charges after he was caught on video in a heated argument with the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officers.
The video, which has been trending on X and other social media platforms, showed a Gauteng Traffic Officer confronting several EMPD Officers in what appeared to be a heated argument.
The officer made rude gestures and attempted to push the camera out of his face, which escalated the situation. The EMPD officers tried to calm the matter down. The Traffic officer continued to make rude comments towards the EMPD officers, calling them illiterate, while the voice behind the camera kept alleging that the officer had grabbed her and been disrespectful to her.
Wadeville, Ekurhuleni –
Watch this @GTP_Traffstats officer interfering with EMPD officers after they stopped a motorist.
@City_Ekurhuleni #CrimeWatch pic.twitter.com/c0mR3V9nAX
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) August 7, 2024
According to The Citizen, it is reported that the EMPD officers stopped a vehicle with a foreign number plate for inspection, when the motorist reached out to a Gauteng Traffic officer to assist her.
The Ekurhuleni Mayoral Committee of Community Safety (MMC), Sizakele Masuku, condemned the incident and said that no officer was ever above the law.
“This is unacceptable behaviour and the law must take its course. What is even sad is that these are colleagues who should be working together to protect our people. No one is above the law in this country and such barbaric behavior especially by an officer of the law is regrettable,” Masuku said.
The traffic officer faces charges of intimidation, common assault, defeating the ends of justice, and interfering with police duties. Masuku said it was not the officer’s first offence after he was accused of allegedly beating people on the street.
“He is not the best cop ever because a law enforcement officer would never conduct himself in such an unlawful manner.”
1/2 The @GP_CommSafety has noted with concern a video of a Gauteng Traffic Police Officer involved in an altercation with Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officers.#GrowingASaferGauteng pic.twitter.com/iNuo2MOqKD
— GP Department of Community Safety (@GP_CommSafety) August 7, 2024
2/2 The incident is being investigated to ensure appropriate actions are taken and to maintain the integrity and professionalism of law enforcement officials.
— GP Department of Community Safety (@GP_CommSafety) August 7, 2024
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Picture: X/@GP_CommSafety
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
