His daughter, Gabrielle Cowling, spoke on behalf of him, as he wished to remain anonymous.
Cowling said, “My father was stopped at a roadblock at Allandale offramp towards midday by police and Metro police officers. A Metro police officer, who was not wearing his badge and name, asked to see my father’s driver’s licence. My father realised he had forgotten his licence at home. He called my mother who got into her car to drive over with the licence. The officer asked for a fine of R2 500.”
She added, “My father said he did not have the money. The officer threatened to lock my father up unless he paid. The officer offered to take my father to an ATM, (but) my father refused. In the end my father paid the officer R800 and was let go.”
Cowling said she called Midrand police and spoke to a constable who, she claimed, was “not helpful at all”. Midrand Reporter spoke to the constable, whose name has been withheld. She acknowledged receiving the call and claimed Cowling hung up the phone halfway through the conversation. The constable referred any comments to Matome Tlamela, the communications officer for Midrand police.
Tlamela said, “I am not sure which police branch was there, but we do not do roadblocks. Metro police had two roadblocks in that area today (11 October).”
Spokesperson for Metro police, Edna Mamonyane, said, “The motorist should not have given the officer a cent. The complainant must lodge a formal complaint with the anti-corruption hotline and give them a description of the officer who extorted money from him at the Allandale offramp roadblock today.
“Sometimes Metro police officers can issue fines on the spot if they have roadblocks using big trucks, but they always give a receipt for such fines. Motorists must refuse to pay for fines that have no receipts. Metro police are not allowed to take money from any motorists.”
Details: Anti-corruption hotline: 0800-002-587 or SMS 32480.
