A Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer is under investigation after a shocking video circulating on social media appeared to show him grabbing a motorist by the neck and allegedly strangling him during a roadside stop.
The incident, captured on a dashboard camera inside a light delivery vehicle, has sparked widespread public outrage, with many social media users calling for the officer’s dismissal and an independent investigation into his conduct.
The video, which is about two minutes long and has been widely shared across social media platforms, shows a driver and a passenger travelling in what appears to be a mini truck before they are stopped by a JMPD officer.
The video begins with the driver making a thumbs-up gesture towards his left, apparently acknowledging the officer who had signalled for him to stop. Rather than stopping immediately in the middle of a busy road, the driver continues driving for a short distance, seemingly looking for a safer place to pull over as other vehicles pass by.
Moments later, the officer approaches the driver’s window visibly agitated.
“Where is your licence? What is going on?” the officer shouts.
The driver, smiling calmly, responds that he was simply trying to park the vehicle safely.
The explanation appears to anger the officer further.
“Do you see me laughing?” the officer replies before being heard swearing at the driver.
The driver continues insisting that he had been looking for a safe place to stop.
As the exchange grows increasingly heated, the officer repeatedly demands the driver’s licence while continuing to use foul language.
The driver then responds: “Talk to me nice.”
Seconds later, the confrontation turns physical.
The officer is seen reaching through the driver’s window, grabbing the motorist around the neck and appearing to choke him for several seconds.
“You are hurting me,” the driver shouts.
“Yes, I am hurting you,” the officer responds, according to the audio captured on the vehicle’s camera, while continuing to use profanity.
The passenger then pulls out a cellphone as the altercation unfolds, while the vehicle’s dashboard camera continues recording the incident.
The driver eventually breaks free from the officer’s grip.
The officer again demands the driver’s licence, but the driver refuses, telling him he will not hand it over because the officer had allegedly taken his vehicle keys without permission.
A woman, who is not visible in the video, can also be heard during the confrontation while the driver repeatedly complains that he has been strangled.
The footage has since gone viral, drawing widespread condemnation from social media users, many of whom questioned the officer’s conduct and whether reasonable force had been used during what initially appeared to be a routine traffic stop.
Responding to the public outcry, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department confirmed on Friday that it had launched an internal investigation.
In a statement, JMPD said it had noted “with serious concern” the video footage and reports circulating online involving one of its officers and members of the public.
Although the department said it had not yet received a formal complaint from those involved, it confirmed that its Internal Affairs Unit had already opened an investigation using all available evidence.
“To ensure a thorough and complete investigation, we strongly encourage the complainants to come forward and provide formal statements to investigators,” the statement read.
The department said it unequivocally condemned any abuse of power, misconduct, corruption or unprofessional behaviour that undermines public trust and damages the integrity of law enforcement.
JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla said the department remained committed to accountability, transparency and professionalism.
The metro police also urged members of the public to report officer misconduct through its Internal Affairs Unit via its toll-free hotline or WhatsApp reporting line.
The identities of the officer, the driver and the passenger have not been released.
It also remains unclear what led to the traffic stop and whether any charges have been laid against either party.
The investigation is expected to determine whether the officer’s actions breached JMPD regulations and whether disciplinary or criminal action will follow. Until then, the viral footage continues to fuel public debate about police conduct, the use of force during traffic stops and the accountability of law enforcement officers entrusted with protecting the public.
