Speaking to the Advertiser, the complainant, who identified himself only as Patrick, said the patrolling group, driving in about eight vehicles, forced him to pull over along Main Road, Witfield, at about 12.40am on Saturday, February 14.
“They asked me to step out of my car, as they wanted to search me and the vehicle,” he said.
“I refused to comply; instead I locked the doors, lowered my window slightly and demanded to know who they were and who gave them permission to do what they were doing.
“They identified themselves as CPF patrollers working across the area and claimed that they were being deployed by the Boksburg North SAPS station commander.
“They then continued to rudely shout at me to get out of the car, while accusing me of being a criminal, dealing in drugs.
“I, however, insisted that, if they suspected that I was a criminal, they should call the police instead of taking over the police function and harassing me.”
Later on, the patrollers got into their vehicles and drove off.
“I appreciate the CPF’s work to combat crime in our neighbourhoods, but what I saw on Saturday is very unacceptable. Whoever deploys them has lost the plot,” said Patrick.
Boksburg North SAPS spokesperson Juanita Coetzer said CPF patrollers are not allowed to stop and search people or pull over motorists in the absence of police.
“CPF members know that they do not have the legal authority to search anyone, unless a police officer is present to supervise them,” she explained.
“They normally get deployed with police officials in command and they are allowed to assist in searching on request or instruction of the police officer in command.”
Coetzer urged members of the public to refuse to be searched by CPF patrollers in the absence of a uniformed police officer.
Those who encounter such problems are encouraged to report it to their nearest police station.
