A video clip has gone viral, showing how South African Police Service (SAPS) officers allegedly raided a shop in Vryheid. On the video, shows the officers helping themselves to some cash. At first, it was indicated that the incident happened in Soweto and later on in Brits in the North West. After further investigation done by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in AbaQulusi, it was revealed that the incident happened in Vryheid on April 14. It was confirmed that a case was opened at Vryheid police station by the station commander, Colonel Zwane. Mrs Maharaj of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) advised DA Ward Councillor Alta de Kock to take the matter to the Hawks Investigative Unit for further investigation. Despite the evidence against the officers, the DA has been informed that the three suspects are still at work, without an internal disciplinary hearing or arrest.

This has initiated the DA to write a letter to the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula, to act promptly in the matter. The DA is also requesting that these officers be suspended until the final outcome of a full investigation. Currently, the store owner is afraid to come forward for fear of intimidation. In her letter to Lieutenant General Jula, De Kock states that “it is precisely due to shocking and brazen incidents such as this that communities lose faith in the police. SAPS officers are not exempt from the law and when officers do act illegally, they must face the full might of the law. It is unfortunate that all the good work done by SAPS officers is destroyed when some decide to be a law unto themselves”. She concluded that it is vital that urgent action is taken to restore community confidence. The matter is awaiting further investigation and response from Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula.

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