Picture: Traffic officers on duty/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari applauded the two provincial traffic officers for going beyond the call of duty in ensuring compliance with the law. Lehari said, last the Lehurutshe-based Provincial Inspector (PI), TC Pule got a report that there was a stolen vehicle passing through Zeerust on N4 towards the border.
“The law enforcement officers went on the lookout and later apprehended the foreign national, who was taken to the Zeerust Police Station. It was during the standard questioning referred to in the law enforcement parlance as debriefing that he spilled a motherlode of information.
“He indicated that there was another stolen vehicle on the way to the border en route to Zambia and gave a precise description. Several days later, an off-duty PI, Pule saw the vehicle speeding dangerously through the Zeerust CBD. Initial inspection by an observant officer, showed that the vehicle not only matched an account given by an arraigned suspect, but the original manufacturer’s markings were tampered with,” he said.
Lehari further said calling for a backup from law enforcement, another foreign national was arrested and further inspection proved that indeed, the vehicle was stolen in Kempton Park in Gauteng.
“We have always encouraged our officers to be vigilant and attentive and it is even more laudable as he was off duty but had the presence of mind to see that there was something wrong with the vehicle.
“In another development, Principal Provincial Inspector (PPI), MD Van Staden based at the Potchefstroom Station, arrested a police impersonator. He and his colleagues were on a law enforcement operation on Friday on N12 between Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp when they stopped a vehicle clocking 140 kilometres per hour in an 80-kilometre zone,” said Lehari.
He added that the traffic officers stopped the driver and activated the blue flashing light used by law enforcement. Lehari said the PPI, Van Staden asked the man (35), if he was a law enforcement officer to which he replied he is a police reservist.
“Suspecting something as the blue light emitted from a concealed compartment of the vehicle, he was asked to identify himself, of which he failed. On further questions from PPI Van Staden on whether he was on duty and whether there was an emergency that justifies the high speed, he conceded he was impersonating the police and his day job is as a security officer.
“He was taken to the Potchefstroom Police Station, where the case of impersonating a police official, reckless and negligent driving was opened. The vehicle was impounded and the suspect did inform the law enforcement officers that he bought the blue light at the foreign-owned shop in Pretoria, but did not disclose the name nor its exact location,” he said.
The suspect is expected to appear at Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Lehari said this is exemplary work by officers on two of the busiest provincial arterial roads.
“We committed to having law enforcement visibility on all roads. This visibility is largely responsible for the reduction of road fatalities so far. We are proud of our officers and what they did is both commendable and admirable,” he said.
The Guardian 