[imagesource: YouTube / News24]

South African traffic cops don’t have a very good reputation, so it’s not a total surprise to hear about the alleged assault of a motorist by a traffic officer in Hartbeespoort.

However, officials are not even sure if the person in a police uniform is a registered officer.

Also, unfortunately, not such an unfamiliar occurrence.

On Sunday, News24 reported on a short video that is being shared all over social media, showing a motorist in a Bentley being slapped by a person wearing a police uniform and a medical mask, but no badge.

The ‘officer’ even takes a moment to cock his gun and shout at the motorist before the man behind the wheel manages to drive off:

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) noted “with concern the video in which a man wearing what looks like a traffic officer’s uniform is seen viciously assaulting a motorist”:

“This is nothing but pure criminality and thuggery. Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and deserves the strongest censure. Some information has been obtained but the corporation is following all leads to obtain more details to verify it.”

In a tweet, the Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP) said they do not have operations in the area where the alleged assault took place, and also mentioned that the car registration on the officer’s car was “not fully correct”.

IOL has more:

“We can confirm that he is definitely not one of our officers. He could either be a bogus cop or else he could be from the North West Traffic Police but he is not one of us,” said Gauteng Traffic Police’s Sello Maremane on Sunday.

While the people in the video have been encouraged to open a case with the police, the GTP also asks that anyone with more information come forward with details.

The RTMC added that any information will be “treated in strict confidence”.

[sources:news24&iol]