Taxi driver offers a traffic officer cash, walks out of court with a suspended fine
Kamvelihle Gentleman was convicted of bribery in the Makhanda Magistrate's Court after a Sarah Baartman traffic officer refused his money and arrested him at the roadside.
A minibus taxi driver who tried to buy his way past a traffic stop has been convicted of bribery, the South African Police Service said in a media statement on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
Kamvelihle Gentleman was sentenced in the Makhanda Magistrate’s Court to a fine of R10,000 or, if he cannot pay, twelve months in prison. The whole sentence was suspended for three years.
The conviction comes from an incident on 10 July 2025, when a traffic officer pulled over a minibus taxi. She asked the driver for his driver’s licence and his Professional Driving Permit. Gentleman offered her money instead.
The officer refused the bribe and arrested him on the spot.
Major General Thandiswa Kupiso, the Sarah Baartman District Commissioner, welcomed the conviction and commended the officer’s conduct. “Bribery undermines the rule of law and compromises safety on our roads, particularly when it involves public transport vehicles tasked with carrying citizens safely,” she said.
“By rejecting the bribe and making an immediate arrest, this officer demonstrated the high ethical standards required to root out corruption. This sentence serves as a strong warning to motorists that attempting to bribe law enforcement officials is a serious criminal offense, and we will continue to ensure that those who try to corrupt our enforcement systems face the full consequences of the law,” she concluded.
The statement was issued by the Office of the Provincial Commissioner for the Eastern Cape. Enquiries are directed to Captain Marius McCarthy on 071 475 1660. The full statement is available at https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=72088.
