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A Gauteng policeman faces disciplinary action after a viral video showed a large quantity of liquor being removed from a police vehicle at a Centurion mall.
Acting Gauteng police commissioner, Major General Tommy Mthombeni, said on Thursday that officer now faces charges of using a motor vehicle without the owners' consent and contravening Disaster Management Regulations.
On Tuesday SAPS media monitoring team became aware of the video clip doing the rounds and immediately notified management and an investigation was launched.
General Mthombeni said the probe, led by the District Commissioner of Tshwane, Major-General Hilda Mohajane, found that the incident happened at a shopping mall in a part of Centurion policed by Lyttleton SAPS.
"An unconfirmed volume of liquor was being off-loaded from the SAPS van, suggesting that the state vehicle was used to illegally convey alcohol in contravention of the Adjusted Level 3 Lockdown Regulations," he said.
Mthombeni said departmental proceedings would be instituted in relation to the alleged improper conduct of the member.
The Acting Police Commissioner also thanked the member of the public who cooperated and assisted the preliminary investigation after the origin of the video clip was established.
"Members of the public are urged to continue to report non-compliance with the Regulations and should not fear especially when the transgressors are members of the SAPS or other law enforcement agencies. No one is above the law," said General Mthombeni.
