A Pretoria quantity surveyor was allegedly told to "kiss your driver's licence goodbye" by two Johannesburg metro police officers after he failed to use his indicator when making a turn.
Reggie Chiloane, 32, of Soshanguve, said he was pulled over by the police on Main Road in Kyalami, south of Pretoria.
"I admitted to the police that I had neglected to indicate I was turning on to Allandale Road," said Chiloane.
He said one of the officers then took his licence and refused to return it to him.
"When I asked for my licence back, the officers became abusive and started swearing at me," Chiloane said.
He claims the two officers then demanded that he pay them R5 000 before he could have his licence returned.
"I told them that I don't have that sort of money, but I could pay them R500," he said.
Chiloane was bundled into the back of the police vehicle and driven to a Midrand auto-teller.
The second officer followed in Chiloane's Toyota Conquest.
"They forced me to draw the money, still swearing at me and threatening to lock me up if I refused to give them the money," he said.
Chiloane says the officers took the money and left, without issuing a traffic fine.
"I know that paying the bribe was wrong. But I was afraid that, if I didn't, the officers would carry out their threat," he said.
Immediately after the incident, Chiloane laid a complaint of bribery and crimen injuria with Midrand police.
"I took down the registration number of their vehicle and reported the matter to the Johannesburg metro police," he said.
Amon Kanyago of the Johannesburg metro police confirmed the complaint, saying the officers responsible had been identified.
"We will not tolerate any such actions from our officials and we condemn these actions in the strongest possible terms," he said.
Kanyago said an internal investigation into Chiloane's allegations would be initiated and, if appropriate, criminal charges could be brought against the two officers.
"The result of the investigation will determine what disciplinary steps will be taken."
"Corrupt metro officials who wantonly solicit bribes from the public will be severely dealt with," he said.