/ 10 August 2013

JMPD investigated for illegal blue light cavalcade

Police are probing the Johannesburg metro police for allegedly using an unauthorised blue light convoy to escort the Zimbabwean police commissioner.
Most of us don’t have a clue what all the regulations and municipal by-laws are in the first place, so we walk around perpetually dazed and revert to obeying simpler, smaller rules to make ourselves feel virtuous. (M&G)

The officers, who have not been charged, were being investigated for traveling outside their jurisdiction in privately-owned unmarked cars with blue lights and sirens blazing, the Saturday Star reported.

They were reportedly returning from escorting Zimbabwean police commissioner Augustine Chihuri to the Beit Bridge border in Limpopo.

Businessman Phineas Manthata, whose company fits JMPD vehicles with blue lights, sirens, radios, armour and cameras, was allegedly in one of the vehicles stopped by police.

Chihuri was apparently in the country to view cars and equipment sold by Manthata's company which he intended to buy for Zimbabwean police.

Limpopo police spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi confirmed that the cavalcade was stopped by the Polokwane Highway Patrol.

The cars were searched and the vehicles were found to be clean.

However, he said it was decided after consultation with the provincial legal services and the commissioner to dismantle the blue lights at the scene, especially since the JMPD members were outside their jurisdiction.

Metro police chief Chris Ngcobo said he had authorised the escort and denied the JMPD had violated the law.

"There is nothing wrong with our guys escorting the Zimbabwean commissioner because we have a relationship.

"We always escort police commissioners from other countries when they come here," Ngcobo was quoted as saying. – Sapa