EXCLUSIVE: Alleged police impersonators "target" motorists
In an exclusive interview with Martin Bester, one of our listeners shared his alarming interaction with the infamous 'blue light' gang who impersonates South African police officers.
Thursday, on Breakfast with Martin Bester, we spoke to Jonty Walls, who claims that he was stopped and targeted by what he says were possible police impersonators.
Walls recalled the incident as being frightening but says he fears for other people that this could also happen to.
"I could handle the situation, as scary as it was, but it concerns me if it was my wife or my kids or anyone else that you know that isn't able to do that".
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According to Walls, he was driving on the R21 when he saw a blue light in his rearview mirror indicating that he should pull off the road. Walls thought that this might have been due to his new car not yet having an official number plate.
He mentioned that he was pulled off from the road, and from the beginning of the incident, "something didn't make sense," as there were four "officers" in one car.
"I phoned a friend [who works] in security, and he said to drop a live location and that I shouldn't get out," Jonty said to Martin Bester. "One of them came up and wanted my license."
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The "police officers" were dressed in full police gear, with a firearm and bullet-proof vests, and there was a police radio coming from the car the men were in.
According to Walls, the alleged impersonators told him he was speeding and that he should follow them back to their car. "They said I should climb out, and they were quite aggressive."
Walls was also told that he would have to pay a fine "on the spot" or he would be taken to Thembisa police station.
A similar incident happened to another friend of Walls. The friend, whose name was not confirmed, was stopped by "police officers" and then taken to a local petrol station where he was told to withdraw money. The "officers" were also in the same car in both incidents.
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"In my opinion, I don't think all of them were real police," said Walls.
Walls also told Martin Bester and our listeners to try and stay safe by sharing their live locations with loved ones and telling people where they are at all times.
Tune in to the 'Breakfast with Martin Bester', weekdays from 06:00 - 09:00. Stream the show live here or download our mobile app here.