It is alleged that the man was in cahoots with a Metro Police officer who would "borrow" him the vehicle to use for transporting schoolchildren for a fee. It is also alleged the officer would take back the vehicle when the petrol tank was empty and refill it with a municipal petrol card

AN EKURHULENI man has been arrested for driving a Metro Police department vehicle illegally.

The man was nabbed yesterday by members of the department's community liaison unit.

The department's (EMPD) spokesman Inspector Kobeli Mokheseng was cagey with details, but confirmed the arrest. He would only say that "internal processes" were unfolding.

Mokheseng said the man was charged with driving a state vehicle without authorisation and reckless and negligent driving "because he was found driving badly".

"A full investigations will verify all the claims and allegations," he said.

It is alleged that the man was in cahoots with an EMPD officer - who is known to Sowetan - who would "borrow" him the vehicle to use for transporting schoolchildren for a fee.

It is also alleged the officer would take back the vehicle when the petrol tank was empty and refill it - allegedly using a municipal petrol card.

Sowetan has learnt that the man has allegedly been driving the vehicle since January.

Mokheseng could not confirm this, but said: "The investigation will reveal what was going on. We (are) actually trying to locate the vehicle on our systems because it is not part of the new batch.

"This is an old car and I do not think it was being used by our officers anymore."

 - moengk@sowetan.co.za