North West - MEC for Public Safety in the North West, Howard Yawa, has warned that police conduct should at all times be above reproach and in line with the pledge to protect and serve.
The MEC was responding to media reports alleging that two police officers stationed at Brits police station were facing charges of attempted murder, theft and hijacking after allegedly trying to force a motorist to pay a R2 000 spot fine.
Mr Yawa noted that while the motorist has laid charges for a criminal investigation and that the matter has been referred to a senior public prosecutor for a decision, he viewed the allegations levelled against the policemen in a serious light.
He warned that there was no room for corrupt officials who compromised the integrity of the police service.
The MEC has since ordered that an internal investigation be expedited for completion within the next 14 days.
"The investigation will need to get to the bottom of why the motorist was not arrested, if indeed he had committed a traffic violation and couldn't also produce a drivers license; why the alleged financial transactions had to be conducted between the motorist and the said policemen and what led to the alleged shooting, flight of the policemen from the scene and subsequent abandonment of the motorist's car?" Mr Yawa said.
The motorist was allegedly pulled over by two policemen in a police vehicle on Monday at 3am, supposedly for ignoring a red traffic light on the Brits main road.
According to a report on Tuesday, an argument ensued about alleged speeding and the two officers issued a spot fine of R2 000. The motorist called his girlfriend and arranged to meet her at a nearby fuel station where the money would be drawn.
