No more tjo-tjo campaign

THE new corruption watch dog, Corruption Watch, launched the nationwide “no more tjo-tjo” campaign yesterday in Illovo.

The organisation’s aim is to encourage the public to speak out and refuse to take any bribes from Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officers or any other officer.

The campaign is underpinned by the Law for Sale report, one of several planned by Corruption Watch to highlight hot spots in the country.

“We have called on the City of Johannesburg to ‘get real’ and recognise the extent of traffic cop bribery on the road,” Executive Director David Lewis said.

Lewis said according to statistics one in four drivers paid a bribe.

He said that bribery is a serious offence.

In 2010 an estimated 150 000 drivers paid bribes to traffic cops but currently no new statistics has been given.

JMPD statistics on police corruption show that only 184 cases of corruption were reported over a three-year period (2009-2011). Out of these, 37 officers were found guilty and 19 were dismissed.

“We often hear the excuses that public is responsible for offering bribes to traffic officers but we expect law enforcement to be accountable and exemplary in their behaviour,” Lewis explained.

He said that the public would be very reluctant to offer a bribe if they knew that traffic officers always upheld the law.

Lewis stressed that bribery was not a victimless offence.

“Drunk drivers or motorists with defective vehicles are left to drive on the roads after paying a bribe,” he said.

According to section 334(2)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, if stopped by a police officer you can ask them to see their appointment card, which includes the officer’s picture, name, rank, force and station.

Lewis emphasised, if a police officer refuses to identify him/herself, you do not need to show your driver’s licence.

According to the law if you do not have a drivers licence or ID, a police officer may detain you for 12 hours to ascertain your identity.

A male officer is not allowed to search women, but he can ask you to empty your pockets and bag and many women have reported either being harassed, sexually assaulted by male officers.

No one is obliged to pay fines on the spot.

If a driver is pulled over for drunken driving, a police officers must take you to the nearest station to open a docket before you are taken to a clinic for a blood test which must be done within two hours.

No police officer has the right to verbally abuse you or intimidate you or anyone else. It is important to get all details of any police officer who has treated you unjustly.