Two who assisted ‘drunk’ EMPD officer to ‘escape’, also suspended
The City instituted a preliminary investigation which resulted in the suspension of the metro traffic officer and other accomplices
Two Ekurhuleni Metro Police officers were suspended after they apparently assisted an alleged drunk colleague to ‘escape’ from the scene before a blood sample could be taken.
The alleged drunk officer was also placed on suspension with immediate effect.
Acting spokesperson for the City of Ekurhuleni Solly Mashabela on Wednesday afternoon said the City acted swiftly and suspended, with immediate effect, the metro traffic officer who was allegedly drunk in full uniform as witnessed on a video that went viral on social media since Tuesday.
Also read:
• WATCH: ‘Drunken’ metro cop suspended
“The City instituted a preliminary investigation which resulted in the suspension of the metro traffic officer and other accomplices. It is alleged that there were two other officials who defeated the ends of justice by aiding the metro traffic officer to escape from the scene without being processed,” said Mashabela.
Dear @City_Ekurhuleni & @mzwandileMasina - WATCH this video of a metro cop allegedly under the influence of alcohol. He nearly crashed into a biker in Benoni and threatened to shoot the man while he was recording him. @GP_CommSafety @MbalulaFikile @David_Makhura Video as red pic.twitter.com/GTsZd85WK6
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) September 24, 2019
“Consequently, the process of taking blood samples and the arrest of the suspect was never done. The City has eventually pre-suspended two additional officers, including a supervisor, pending the finalisation of the disciplinary proceedings.
“We are committed to ensure that the lives of our communities and their safety are of our paramount importance. We will never allow anyone to drag the good name of our City through the mud. We will fully investigate this matter and whoever is involved will be disciplined following the prescripts of our labour processes.
“We will not tolerate such behaviour by our metro officers who have a responsibility to protect our people,” said Clr Lesiba Mpya, acting executive mayor of Ekurhuleni.
In the meantime, the DA called on the Gauteng MEC for community safety, Faith Mazibuko, to conduct an investigation into the conduct of the metro police officers in the province as a matter of urgency.
“The MEC should ensure that our metro police are fit for duty to prevent crime and to ensure the safety of our residents on the roads. The DA believes that the only solution to ensure that the metro police adhere to their code of conduct is professionalising the metro police service. This can be done by hiring people with a passion for policing and retraining metro police officers to make the metro police force honest, professional and one that serves and protects South Africans,” the DA said in a statement issued on Wednesday morning.
