The Tshwane Metro Council has undertaken to arrest corrupt and criminal metro police officers and two officers were arrested this past weekend while seven are under criminal investigation.
According to Sipho Stuurman, spokesperson for the Tshwane Metro, two officers attached to the Tshwane Metro Police (TMPD) in Diepsloot, Johannesburg, were arrested by the Johannesburg Metro Police (JMPD) for driving outside their jurisdiction with a private vehicle as metro police officers acted.
The seven officers under investigation are believed to have used illegal breathalyzers. Five of these officers also worked outside their jurisdiction during an incident and allegedly extorted and robbed a member of the public.
The TMPD issued a directive last week in which motorists are granted permission to request a metro police officer’s appointment certificate and even take a video or photo of the officer, the certificate or of his or her vehicle.
According to the Tshwane mayor, Cilliers Brink, this directive is to protect the public and officers and restore trust between the two.
“While we try to separate the wheat from the chaff in the TMPD, we know there are many good officers who are still trying to make a difference. I want to thank them and encourage them to continue to serve the communities with integrity,” says Brink.
