Durban – A KwaZulu-Natal police officer is in hot water and facing internal disciplinary proceedings after a video clip showing him driving a marked police van without a driver's door surfaced on social media. The incident, which has sparked debate about police conduct and vehicle safety protocols, occurred on Sunday, June 1, within the Durban North policing precinct.
The saga began after the police vehicle was involved in a collision with a minibus taxi. According to Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the driver's door had to be removed in order to free a female Warrant Officer who was trapped inside the vehicle following the crash.
However, instead of adhering to established protocols for dealing with damaged vehicles, another officer – also a Warrant Officer – made the decision to drive the damaged Toyota Yaris back to the police station. This action, the SAPS insists, was a clear breach of standard operating procedures.
"Instead of following prescribed procedures, another driver, also a Warrant Officer, drove the vehicle to the station, endangering his life and putting the name and the image of the South African Police Service into disrepute," stated Netshiunda.
While the video only began circulating online on Monday, Colonel Netshiunda confirmed that the footage was indeed filmed the previous day, Sunday, June 1.
Although the officer driving the damaged van was reportedly escorted by another police vehicle with its blue lights activated – a detail not apparent in the widely shared video – SAPS leadership maintains that the officer's conduct was unacceptable.
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi expressed his displeasure, emphasising the importance of maintaining public trust and upholding the image of the police force. "We are working so hard to protect the image of the police in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and we are doing our best to regain public trust," Mkhwanazi stated.
He made it clear that such behaviour would not be tolerated. "The management of police in KwaZulu-Natal will not allow anyone to tarnish the image by disregarding regulations and procedures. The member who was driving the vehicle, the officer who gave such an unlawful instruction for the vehicle to be driven, and anyone else who was involved in the decision to have that vehicle driven in that condition will be subjected to internal disciplinary processes."
Mkhwanazi reiterated that police management in the province is committed to preventing any actions that could bring the SAPS into disrepute. "We shall never allow anyone to undo the positive impact that police have been making to create a safe and secure environment for all the people in the province of KwaZulu-Natal," he affirmed.
The incident has also drawn considerable reaction on social media platforms, with many South Africans expressing their opinions on the matter. As always, many online users saw the funny side in the video’s comment section.
One TikTok user commented: “I’m South African, but I give up. God is really tired of us.”
Another quipped: “That car is like the state of our country.”
While yet another joked: “We all don’t want to pay for tow trucks.”
The internal disciplinary action against the officer involved will likely focus on the violation of vehicle safety protocols and the potential damage to the reputation of the SAPS. The investigation will also seek to determine who authorised the officer to drive the unroadworthy vehicle back to the station.
This incident comes at a time when the South African Police Service is actively working to improve its image and build stronger relationships with the communities it serves. Actions that undermine these efforts are viewed with great concern by police leadership.
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