Matric dance chauffeur police officers suspended

KZN police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has condemned the private use of State resources.

“Communities always complain that when they call police stations, they are told there are no vans, while police officers are gallivanting with State resources that are meant to serve [residents],” said Mkhwanazi.

This strong statement comes after on-duty police officers transported a colleague’s child to the matric dance in a police van in Estcourt.

A video of the learner’s arrival went viral on social media, resulting in the law enforcement officers being placed under internal investigation and temporarily removed from operation.

“I have instructed the district commissioner of uThukela to ensure 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 running cost of that vehicle should be claimed from those members,” he said.

With limited State resources, a constant hindrance when tackling crime in South Africa, SAPS is reinforcing that its resources should be used only for authorised official duties.

The entity warned that any staff member found to be misusing vehicles, stationery or any State property will undergo internal police disciplinary processes and a criminal charge, which might even lead to dismissal.

Don’t have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here:

HAVE YOUR SAY