An Eastern Cape traffic officer caught on video brazenly extorting a bribe from a motorist has resigned.
The extraordinary footage which went viral purports to show uniformed Mnquma municipality traffic officer Zwelithini Ntukuntezi, 37, counting out and then pocketing cash notes.
Weekend Dispatch has seen a copy of Ntukuntezi’s brief resignation letter.
However, his employers said he will be facing the full might of the law.
Mnquma municipal manager Silumko Mahlasela said six other traffic officers who were seen on the video would also be investigated.
Mahlasela said there might be more to the saga as he had a report on corruption “but we cannot yet divulge it to the Dispatch”.
In the video, the officer is seen taking money from a motorist, and seems to have no idea that his words and actions are being recorded close up.
In the one-minute video, the officer can be heard speaking isiXhosa, telling the driver that they had not yet agreed to anything.
He is seen sitting half-hidden in the back seat of a red vehicle, with his back to the driver’s seat and with the rear passenger door sheltering him from public view, counting nine blue and red notes.
In a reference to someone apparently sitting in a truck nearby, the officer says to a black motorist: “We have not agreed to anything yet. You should have dragged that white person with you to see what he is going to say.”
As he counts out nine notes, the officer complains about the state of the notes. “The money is grubby! Where do you keep it?”
The motorist replies that he keeps the money in the truck.
The motorist seems to ask the officer for a cut of the bribe money. He pleads with the officer to be given a “cold drink”.
The officer continues: “Do not keep money in the truck! You should have dragged the white guy to add more, at least you were going to get a cold drink.”
The two are heard arguing, and the traffic officer instructs the driver to pass at the same spot next time...