By Everson Luhanga
Two police officers have been removed from their deployment to the elections in KwaZulu-Natal.
KZN provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, directed that immediate disciplinary steps be taken against two police officers who are seen in video footage “infringing the SAPS Code of Conduct and bringing the image of SAPS into disrepute”.
In the video, a police officer in uniform, driving a state vehicle belonging to the Sundumbili police station, can be seen picking up an off-duty police officer at a voting station.
The off-duty police officer in the video can be seen wearing the regalia of a political party.
The provincial commissioner ordered that the two must be removed from election duty immediately.
He said that police officers must be professional at all times and respect the oath that they took when they joined the SAPS.
“On more than one occasion I reiterated to the members of the South African Police Service here in KwaZulu-Natal that they should be apolitical and leave politics to politicians. I emphasised the fact that police officers must never campaign or be seen to be campaigning for any political party.
“What these police officers did is totally unacceptable and such behaviour undermines the hard work that the police have been doing to create a safe and secure environment for the 2024 national and provincial elections,” he said.
Mkhwanazi said the two cops will be subjected to internal discipline.
“Police officers are reminded that they must treat all political parties equally and with respect.
He said political parties and community members are also encouraged to report wrongdoing by SAPS members in KZN.
“No one is above the law and police officers who are found to be on the wrong side of the law will dance to the tunes of their unbecoming actions.”
Pictured above: KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
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