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Johannesburg – Afrikaans singer Bobby van Jaarsveld and his tour group have told of their refusal to pay a bribe to four metro police officers at the weekend.
Van Jaarsveld, his mother, Ronel Brink and his band were on the N1 south heading towards Bloemfontein when metro police officers stopped their tour bus at a roadblock about 25km past the Grasmere tollgate.
The group was to perform at the Windmill Casino in Bloemfontein at 18:00 on Friday.
'Quite rattled'
According to Brink, there was something wrong with the licence disc.
"I never realised the licence disc is a copy of the actual document.
"Four police officers with threatening attitudes repeatedly told me to climb out of the car and that they will confiscate the bus.
"We didn't want to make a scene. I was quite rattled... because they stand around you and are very intimidating.
At first they wanted me to go pay R7 000 at the police station.
"I repeatedly said they must give me a fine."
'What a corrupt bunch'
Then came the proposals for a bribe: "'We'll let you go, then you're not late for your show. Give us what you have in the car as a gesture of gratitude. It's just the four of us here, nobody will know.'"
Brink said she refused and walked across the road to the commanding officer.
"These four denied it, but luckily I had witnesses. I think she was perplexed, because she just told me to drive. Without a fine. What a corrupt bunch."
Wayne Minnaar of the Johannesburg metro police said a formal complaint has to be submitted with the internal investigation unit before any action can be taken.
The unit's telephone numbers are 011 490 1703 and 082 559 3866.
Van Jaarsveld, his mother, Ronel Brink and his band were on the N1 south heading towards Bloemfontein when metro police officers stopped their tour bus at a roadblock about 25km past the Grasmere tollgate.
The group was to perform at the Windmill Casino in Bloemfontein at 18:00 on Friday.
'Quite rattled'
According to Brink, there was something wrong with the licence disc.
"I never realised the licence disc is a copy of the actual document.
"Four police officers with threatening attitudes repeatedly told me to climb out of the car and that they will confiscate the bus.
"We didn't want to make a scene. I was quite rattled... because they stand around you and are very intimidating.
At first they wanted me to go pay R7 000 at the police station.
"I repeatedly said they must give me a fine."
'What a corrupt bunch'
Then came the proposals for a bribe: "'We'll let you go, then you're not late for your show. Give us what you have in the car as a gesture of gratitude. It's just the four of us here, nobody will know.'"
Brink said she refused and walked across the road to the commanding officer.
"These four denied it, but luckily I had witnesses. I think she was perplexed, because she just told me to drive. Without a fine. What a corrupt bunch."
Wayne Minnaar of the Johannesburg metro police said a formal complaint has to be submitted with the internal investigation unit before any action can be taken.
The unit's telephone numbers are 011 490 1703 and 082 559 3866.
