The provincial police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has ordered the temporary removal of police officers who transported a learner to a matric dance in Estcourt using a police vehicle.

The officers have been removed from operation pending internal investigation on their conduct.

Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the provincial spokesperson, stated that the officers seen in a widely circulated video on various media and social media platforms were on duty when they transported a child’s colleague to a matric dance event at the time.

Netshiunda said that by doing so, the members failed to uphold their main duties of ensuring police visibility, addressing complaints, and maintaining the safety and security of residents.

Mkhwanazi said that he had instructed the Uthukela district commissioner to ensure that the immediate commander of the officers involved initiated urgent disciplinary action against them.

“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. Communities always complain that when they call police stations, they are told that there are no vans, whilst police officers are galivanting with state resources that are meant to serve the communities”, said Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi said that police are reminded to be professional at all times and protect the image of the organisation.

“The limited state resources should only be used for authorised official duties and anyone who is found to be misusing vehicles, stationary or any state property will be met with the wrath of internal police disciplinary processes and a criminal charge which might even lead to dismissal,” he said.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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