NPA’S ASSET FORFEITURE UNIT SECURES PRESERVATION ORDER IN “BLUE LIGHT” VEHICLE CASE
18 July 2025
NPA’S ASSET FORFEITURE UNIT SECURES PRESERVATION ORDER IN “BLUE LIGHT” VEHICLE CASE
Mafikeng, North West – The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the North West Division has obtained a preservation order from the North West High Court in terms of Section 38 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), 121 of 1998. The order, granted on 17 July 2025, relates to a silver Toyota Fortuner valued at approximately R600,000, which was used as an instrumentality in the commission of an offence listed in Schedule 1 of POCA.
This follows an incident on 27 April 2025, along the N18 near Vryburg, where law enforcement officials arrested a suspect for unlawfully using blue identification lights on the vehicle. The arrest was made in terms of Regulations 176 and 185 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2000, which prohibit the unauthorised fitting or display of blue lights reserved exclusively for emergency and law enforcement vehicles. According to the law, only specific personnel are permitted to use such lights when performing official duties.
These include members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), municipal police, provincial and municipal traffic officers, and the Military Police of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). In addition to the road traffic offences, the suspect was also charged and convicted under Section 49 of the Immigration Act, 2002, for being in South Africa without valid documentation. He was subsequently deported by immigration enforcement procedures.
The NPA welcomes the court’s decision as a firm affirmation of the rule of law and a critical step in combating the abuse of state-like authority by individuals who use unauthorised blue lights to impersonate law enforcement. The ruling sends a strong message that the justice system will not tolerate actions that endanger public safety, erode trust in legitimate law enforcement, or create fear and confusion on our roads.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, commended the AFU for its outstanding work and swift action in securing the preservation order. “This outcome reaffirms our commitment to tackling the growing problem of so-called ‘blue light bullies’ who intimidate road users and undermine public safety. These individuals often act with impunity, posing a serious threat to both the physical safety of citizens and the credibility of law enforcement agencies.
The NPA, through its Asset Forfeiture Unit, will continue to take decisive action to dismantle this form of organised criminality by seizing their tools of trade, particularly unlawfully used vehicles, and pursuing the appropriate legal remedies. We remain steadfast in our duty to uphold the law and protect our communities from those who seek to exploit systems of authority for criminal gain.”
Issued by:
Sivenathi Gunya
Communications Officer - North West Division
National Prosecuting Authority
078 172 9367