Drakenstein Municipality defends reinstatement of traffic warden amid extortion allegations
The GOOD Party raised concerns after a Drakenstein municipality traffic warden allegedly attempted to extort an Uber driver
Image: File
Drakenstein Municipality has defended the reinstatement of a traffic warden accused of extorting an Uber driver, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the GOOD Party, which says the official should not be back on the road while “clear and compelling evidence” exists against him.
GOOD Drakenstein Councillor and Caucus chairperson Keagen Gertse said the party had formally written to the Municipality’s political and administrative leadership seeking clarity after learning that the warden had resumed duty.
“The GOOD Party in the Drakenstein Municipality has urgently written to the political and administrative leadership seeking clarity regarding allegations that a municipal traffic warden attempted to extort an Uber driver earlier this year, in June 2025,” Gertse said.
He said it was alleged that the warden demanded money from the Uber driver, and that a passenger recorded the interaction on video.
“The footage was submitted as evidence during a formal complaint process. GOOD followed up on the matter in the Public Safety Portfolio Committee, where it was confirmed by a municipal official that the video had been received and that an internal investigation was conducted,” he said.
Gertse said the party was alarmed to learn that the same official is now “back in the employ of Drakenstein Municipality, performing his duties on the road once again, despite the existence of clear and compelling evidence of wrongdoing”.
He said the Municipality owed the public an explanation. “In our written submission, GOOD has demanded that the municipality clarify its official stance on this matter. Abuse of power, criminal conduct, and greed have no place in a society already plagued by extortion and mafia-style operations.”
Gertse added that residents deserve to know who is policing their roads.
“If these allegations are true and if Drakenstein Municipality has indeed taken an unethical stance, residents deserve to know what kind of conduct they can expect from municipal officials.”
The Municipality, however, insists it is following proper procedure and said it is the complainant who stalled the case.
Municipal spokesperson Riana Geldenhys said both disciplinary and criminal processes were initiated based on the evidence initially provided.
“Drakenstein Municipality has instituted pending disciplinary action based on the complainant’s evidence or testimony. The same applies to the criminal investigation,” she said.
But Geldenhys said the complainant failed to attend the disciplinary hearing or assist SAPS.
“Unfortunately, the complainant did not attend the first sitting of the disciplinary hearing, where he was due to provide verbal testimony. The complainant also failed to report to the South African Police Service charge office to assist the Municipality in registering a criminal complaint.”
The traffic warden was suspended, but the suspension could not continue indefinitely.
“The point duty official was suspended pending the disciplinary hearing, but the suspension was lifted after the complainant did not cooperate. With the suspension lifted, the point duty official is required to report for duty and perform functions under close supervision,” Geldenhys said.
In contrast to GOOD’s accusations of a cover-up, Geldenhys said the Municipality maintains a strict stance:
“Drakenstein Municipality’s Traffic Services follows a zero-tolerance approach to any abuse of power and corruption among municipal traffic officials.”
She said all employees are bound by SALGA’s disciplinary agreement and the municipal Code of Conduct, and that allegations are thoroughly investigated, with disciplinary action instituted immediately where evidence allows.
The Western Cape E-Hailing Association (WCEA) has weighed in on the matter. Yusuf Dahir, interim Secretary General of WCEA, said the association was aware of the incident but noted that the affected driver was not a registered member.
Nevertheless, Dahir stressed that any allegations of extortion, corruption, or abuse of power by law enforcement officials are taken extremely seriously.
“If it is true that the official implicated in this alleged misconduct has returned to duty without a transparent and conclusive disciplinary outcome, we strongly condemn and oppose such a decision,” Dahir said.
“Allowing an official accused of such behaviour to resume duties without full public clarity sends a troubling message to drivers, commuters, and taxpayers, and risks setting a precedent that misconduct can go unchecked.”
WCEA also outlined recommendations to safeguard e-hailing drivers, including independent investigations, use of body-cameras and in-vehicle cameras, guaranteed protection against retaliation, clear enforcement protocols, and strengthened oversight of municipal traffic services.
Dahir emphasised that every allegation must be properly investigated, outcomes must be transparent, and accountability applied consistently regardless of rank.
The association continues to develop internal structures to guide drivers in handling enforcement, assist with evidence preservation, and support formal complaints.
Dahir added that mandatory ethics, conduct, and anti-corruption training for traffic wardens should be regularly renewed, especially for those interacting with public transport and e-hailing sectors.
While the WCEA was not directly involved in this specific case, the organisation stressed that reinstating the warden without a credible disciplinary conclusion is premature and inappropriate. “We remain committed to advocating for a safe, fair, and accountable environment for all drivers and commuters across the Western Cape,” Dahir said.