Two KZN police officers have been removed from elections deployment with immediate effect.

According to KZN police, provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has directed that immediate expeditious disciplinary steps be taken against two police officers who are seen in video footage infringing the SAPS Code of Conduct and bringing the image of the SAPS into disrepute.

In the video, it’s alleged that a police officer in uniform, driving a state vehicle belonging to Sundumbili Police Station, is seen picking up an off-duty police officer wearing regalia of a political party at a voting station.

Mkhwanazi has ordered that the officers must be removed from the elections deployment with immediate effect.

He said police officers must be professional at all times and respect the oath they took when they voluntarily joined the SAPS.

“On more than one occasion I reiterated to the members of the SAPS here in KZN that they should be apolitical and leave politics to politicians. I emphasised the fact that police officers must never campaign or be seen to be campaigning for any political party.”

“What these police officers did is totally unacceptable and such behaviour undermines the hard work that the police have been doing to create a safe and secure environment for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections. The two members will be subjected to internal disciplinary steps proportional to their unbecoming behaviour,” Mkhwanazi says.

He says police officers must treat all political parties equally and with respect. Political parties and community members are also encouraged to report any wrongdoing by the members of the SAPS.

“No one is above the law and police officers who are found to be on the wrong side of the law will dance to the tunes of their unbecoming actions.”