‘Drunk’ KZN police officer caught napping
KwaZulu-Natal police will launch internal investigations after pictures of a police officer allegedly passed out behind the wheel of a police van, with a bottle of alcohol between his legs, were circulated on Facebook.
The officer, believed to be a constable from Mid-Illovo Police Station, trended on social media from Saturday morning when Kokstad resident, Ben Heydenrych, took a photo of him sleeping in a police van with the bottle of alcohol, on his lap, on Alan Paton Drive, Scottsville, Public Eye Maritzburgreported.
Heydenrych, who shared the photos on his Facebook page, said he was taking his son to a local primary school when he noticed the police officer sitting with his face down in the driver’s seat of the police van, which had its blue lights on.
He said he tried to wake the police officer several times, to no avail.
“I shouted at him trying to wake him up, but that was no help. Two men arrived and tried throwing items on his face, and the other man took his drink and showered it on the officer’s face, which awakened him. He then drove off in the van, evidently still very drunk,” Heydenrych said.
Local police spokesperson Constable Mthokozisi Ngobese said the matter was reported at the Pietermaritzburg cluster.
“We’ve reported the matter to the station commander of Mid-Illovo. We cannot preempt what exactly happened, but if the allegations are true, the officer will be charged departmentally. These allegations have seriously compromised the image of the police, but we must let our due internal procedures take place,” Ngobese added.
In a separate incident, pictures circulated on Facebook showing a woman holding alcohol whilesitting in the driver’s seat of a marked EMPD vehicle in June.
The picture caused a stir on Facebook as people criticised the woman’s actions.
EMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago said an internal affairs department of the EMPD was conducting investigations. It is not clear where the photo was taken or if the woman in the picture is an employee of the EMPD.
The woman, Tshidi Ford, apologised: “My humble apologies to all. I have caused a stir by sneaking into an EMPD car while it was being washed and took pics. I’m really sorry – didn’t mean any harm [sic].”
– Caxton News Service
Read original story on publiceyemaritzburg.co.za
