Two KwaZulu-Natal police officers have been suspended after a video went viral showing them transporting a pupil to a matric dance in a state vehicle while on duty.
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi confirmed the officers, based in Estcourt, have been removed from operational duties pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
The video, widely circulated on social media, shows the officers ferrying the child of a colleague to the event.
Mkhwanazi said in doing so, the officers abandoned their core duties of providing visibility, attending to complaints, and ensuring the safety of residents.
“I have instructed the District Commissioner of UThukela to ensure that the immediate commander of the officers involved must take urgent disciplinary steps against them,” said Mkhwanazi.
“We cannot afford to have police officers who report for duty but use state resources for their personal gain.”
“I have further instructed our finance and supply chain management officers to determine the financial loss that the state could have suffered by that unauthorised activity.
“State petrol, state time and the running cost of that vehicle should be claimed from those members.”
He added that the conduct of the officers undermined public trust, particularly as communities frequently complain of unavailable police vans when reporting crimes.
“Communities always complain that when they call police stations they are told that there are no vans, whilst police officers are galavanting with state resources that are meant to serve the communities,” Mkhwanazi said.
The provincial commissioner reminded members to remain professional and protect the integrity of the service.
“The limited state resources should only be used for authorised official duties and anyone who is found to be misusing vehicles, stationery or any state property will be met with the wrath of internal police disciplinary processes and a criminal charge which might even lead to dismissal,” he said.
