It can be terrifying to see blue flashing lights in your rear-view mirror, particularly with the prevalence of bogus cops on South Africa’s roads. So why is there no formal way to deal with this scary situation?

JOHANNESBURG – On 6 December 2019 Justice Project South Africa announced the withdrawal of its endorsement of the “Combatting of Blue Light Gangs Protocol” (often shortened to the “Blue Light Protocol”) it had developed together with the Road Traffic Management Corporation in late 2013.

This arose from an increasing number of violent attacks on and threats levelled against motorists by genuine law enforcement officials who appeared to either be unaware of the protocol or had deliberately chosen to disregard it.

The protocol was intended to protect motorists from attacks by criminals posing as law enforcement officials, together with the brutality sometimes perpetrated by overzealous law enforcement officials.

Shortly thereafter, a revised protocol was developed and sent to the Police Ministry by anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee, for consideration for it to be ratified and incorporated into SAPS standing orders. We have heard nothing further from SAPS since then.

Today, the office of the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS, Gauteng put out a media release in which the Provincial Commissioner advised motorists who felt uncertain about the authenticity of law enforcement officials trying to stop them, to follow the protocol, which he shortened into a paragraph which reads:

“This type of crime is real. Members of the public are thus urged to exercise caution and in the event that they suspect that they are being stopped by bogus cops, put on their hazards and drive to a nearby police station or even a filling station. Motorists should also have the SAPS 10111 number on speed dial and make the call when it is safe to do so.”

Peculiarly, in December 2019, Brigadier Vish Naidoo – national spokesperson for SAPS denied the existence of the former protocol which has been on the Arrive Alive website since November 2013. He authoritatively said: “if police tell you to stop, you must stop” and “people must stop undermining the authority of the State”.

Abramjee, who has come out in open support of the protocol says: “We need this blue light protocol as a matter of urgency. Motorists are scared of stopping and one can understand why. We’ve had a number of incidents recently again where bogus cops have attacked motorists.”

“I have today made contact with SAPS to request an urgent meeting with SAPS legal services officials and the Provincial Commissioner but feel this matter urgently needs to be escalated to the National Commissioner,” said Howard Dembovsky, chairperson of JPSA.

“It is very dangerous for the top brass of SAPS to advise motorists to take precautionary measures to avoid falling foul of bogus cops, while simultaneously failing to formalise the protocol so that every law enforcement official is aware of it and follows it, without resorting to violence and abuse,” he concluded.

SAPS media release appears below: