Caught on dashcam: City traffic officer shot on duty

Statement by Donald Grant, Minister of Transport and Public Works

Video is available for viewing here.

I should like to join provincial and local traffic and road safety officials in praising the actions of City of Cape Town Traffic Services officer, Nizaam Alexander, following an attack by a would-be firearm robber on the N2 highway near Borcherd’s Quarry late last year.

The incident occurred on 17 November 2015. Traffic Officer Alexander had pulled over a vehicle trying to drive around morning rush hour traffic by using the yellow line emergency lane. Traffic Officer Alexander’s dashcam captured the entire incident, including the chilling moment when the would-be robber’s firearm jams, just prior to the attack in which Traffic Officer Alexander was shot once in the back.

Traffic Officer Alexander, who had just been awarded the City’s Departmental Traffic Officer of the Year Award 2015, responded by rolling away from his attacker. Following his training, he made himself as small a target as possible, drew his firearm and returned fire, before pursuing the suspect on foot. The suspect fled towards informal housing adjacent to the freeway, and was able to escape. Traffic Officer Alexander calmly returned to the scene and finished issuing the summons for driving in the yellow line before seeking medical attention. His bullet proof vest prevented serious injury, and he was back on duty soon after the incident.

Traffic Officer Nizaam Alexander’s conduct in this incident exemplifies the professionalism and dedication to duty of our traffic officers from all services.

We commend all our devoted traffic officers who place their lives in danger every day to make our roads safer.