KEMPTON PARK – Officers from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) attached to the O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) unit arrested a male suspect on charges of reckless and negligent driving in the Kempton Park area.
The incident unfolded during a routine enforcement operation on Voortrekker Road. EMPD officers attempted to stop a silver Volkswagen Polo Vivo. The driver failed to comply, instead fleeing from the scene. Officers immediately initiated a pursuit.
During the chase, the driver lost control of the vehicle. It struck palisade poles before the suspect continued fleeing on foot, abandoning the silver Polo Vivo at the scene. The pursuit persisted until the suspect was apprehended at the Airport Cargo area.
Officers returned to the accident scene with the detained suspect. A control room-assisted search and inspection of the abandoned vehicle revealed discrepancies. The vehicle’s registration details did not match the actual vehicle. Further examination through a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) check confirmed that the car was originally red, not silver as it appeared.
The suspect was formally detained and transported to the Kempton Park police station for further processing and investigation. Authorities are expected to pursue additional charges related to the vehicle discrepancies, in addition to the initial reckless and negligent driving offenses.
This operation highlights ongoing efforts by EMPD officers in the Northern Region to address traffic violations, vehicle-related crimes, and ensure road safety in high-traffic areas around Kempton Park and the OR Tambo International Airport vicinity. Such incidents involving fleeing drivers and mismatched vehicle details often point to broader concerns around stolen or tampered vehicles in the region.
No further details on the suspect’s identity or age have been released at this stage, pending formal charges at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court. Investigations into the vehicle’s history and ownership continue.
