Swift disciplinary steps have been taken against two police officers stationed at the Sundumbili police station in KwaZulu Natal who were seen in video footage infringing the SAPS Code of Conduct and bringing its image into disrepute.
Spokepserson Colonel Robert Netshiunda says in the footage taken this week, a police officer in uniform, driving a state vehicle, can be seen picking up an off-duty police officer at a voting station.
He says the off-duty police officer can be seen wearing regalia of a political party.
Netshiunda says the Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi ordered that the two officers be removed from the Elections deployment with immediate effect.
He said that police officers must be professional at all times and respect the oath that they took when they voluntarily joined the South African Police Service.
"In 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 emphasized 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. The two members will be subjected to internal disciplinary steps proportional to their unbecoming behaviour", said Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi.
Police officers are reminded that they must treat all political parties equally and with respect.
Political parties and community members are also encouraged to report any wrongdoing by the members.
