MAFIKENG – A court has ordered the seizure of a silver Toyota Fortuner valued at R600 000 from a man who illegally used blue emergency lights to impersonate police officers.
The North West High Court granted the seizure order on 17 July , following an incident in April where the suspect was caught using unauthorised blue lights on his vehicle near Vryburg.
What happened
On 27 April, law enforcement officers arrested the suspect along the N18 highway near Vryburg. He was using blue identification lights on his Toyota Fortuner – something that’s strictly illegal for ordinary citizens.
Only specific officials are allowed to use blue lights when on duty such as police officers, municipal police, taffic officers and military police.
The suspect was also found to be in the country illegally without proper documentation. He was convicted under immigration laws and later deported.
Court action
The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), part of the National Prosecuting Authority, successfully applied to have the vehicle seized permanently. The court agreed that the car was used as a tool to commit crimes.
This action was taken under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, which allows authorities to seize assets used in criminal activities.
Crackdown on ‘blue light bullies’
Dr Rachel Makhari, the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, praised the court’s decision. She said the ruling sends a strong message against so-called “blue light bullies” – people who use fake emergency lights to intimidate other drivers and abuse authority.
“These individuals often act with impunity, posing a serious threat to both the physical safety of citizens and the credibility of law enforcement agencies,” Dr Makhari said.
She emphasized that the NPA will continue taking action against people who use unauthorized blue lights, particularly by seizing their vehicles and pursuing criminal charges.
