Impersonating a Community Safety Officer is Illegal

It is illegal for a civilian to wear any official clothing, uniform, badge or insignia belonging to the community safety cluster.

This cluster includes the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) and Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS).

A hefty fine of R5 000 or imprisonment of up to six months awaits you should you be found illegally wearing any of their uniforms.

This is according to the DEMS By-law under section ES-5(1) that ‘prohibits the wearing of official clothing, uniform, badge or insignia of the service by non-member’.