Bus conductor bashes traffic cop

A BUS conductor employed by PCJ Buses has been arrested after he beat up a traffic police officer for refusing to show him a police receipt book.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred last Sunday at the Plumtree Border Post.

Bernard Khethani (39) is said to have demanded the receipt book after the police officer fined him for mixing goods and passengers in the bus.

"The officer stopped the bus which was coming from Botswana and inspected it. He then summoned the bus conductor and told him to pay a fine for mixing passengers and goods. The conductor refused and that is when a dispute between the two started.

"The bus conductor refused to comply and instead demanded to inspect the police receipt book. He said almost all buses which passed through the border did the same and he wanted to see whether they had been penalised for the same offence," said another officer stationed at the border.

He said the bus conductor went on to insult the police officer who declined to hand over the book and later beat him up.

"The bus conductor became violent and started shouting abusive language and accused the police officer of being corrupt. The officer made it clear that he would not release the book and the bus conductor then grabbed him by the neck and pushed him against a fence.

"Other police officers that were also at the border rushed to intervene and they apprehended the bus conductor," said the police officer.

Inspector Ndebele said the bus conductor was expected to appear in court soon.