An Eastern Cape traffic officer was arrested on Thursday for taking a bribe, said police.

The taxi driver who tried to bribe him was also arrested, said Inspector Namhla Mdleni.

She said the 56-year-old traffic officer was on duty at a stop and search about three kilometres from Queenstown on the N6 to Cathcart at 3.15pm.

He approached a 28-year-old taxi driver and discovered he was not licensed to transport passengers. Instead of a ticket being issued, money exchanged hands.

Another traffic officer saw what was going on and the two men were arrested.

Mdleni said an amount of less than R20 was involved.