Following a recent social media post regarding an incident involving Swakopmund traffic officers who reportedly physically restrained a motorist, Namib Times received official confirmation that a formal complaint was lodged and that the investigating is ongoing. The motorist was pulled over for an alleged speeding offence.
The incident occurred on 4 January 2026, about 15 kilometres outside Swakopmund on the B2 highway in the direction of Arandis.
According to the 26-year-old complainant he requested to see the calibration certificate of the camera, after he was fined for speeding (146 km/h in a 120 km/h zone), but his request was denied. The situation apparently escalated after he started recording the interaction on his phone, with the two male-and one female traffic officers allegedly getting aggressive and insisting that he is not allowed to record them. According to the complainant the female officer was also recording a video on her mobile phone, thus he kept on recording and taking pictures of the scene. He recalled that he was then grabbed and chocked from behind by one of the male officers, with the other one apparently joining in from the front, subsequently pinning him to the ground. His mobile phone and car keys were then allegedly confiscated by the officers, and he was told that they (officers) were going to contact the police. The complainant further states that after waiting on the police for about an hour the traffic officers requested him to unlock his phone, where after they apparently deleted all the photos and voice recordings of the scene.
Afterwards, his vehicle’s keys were returned to him and the officers instructed him to go, the complainant says. In his official complaint letter (seen by Namib Times), the complainant asks whether he is entitled to ask for the calibration certificate of the camera his alleged speed was captured on, and whether a member of the public is allowed to record traffic officers. Among others, the complainant also wants to know whether traffic officers have the right to assault and threaten a vehicle driver and to confiscate such driver’s personal belongings. Both the Swakopmund Municipality’s Chief traffic officer, Melvin Cloete, and public relations officer, Ms Linda Mupupa confirmed that a formal complaint was lodged. Ms Mupupa further noted that the investigations are still on-going, and the municipality therefor is not in a position to share any information at this stage.
By Marshallino Beukes & Eileen van der Schyff
