Internal investigation to be launched into the matter

Police say they will investigate the conduct of a police officer who was sorting out her DStv account‚ ignoring members of the public in a police station. The name of the policewoman has not been revealed.

Police released a statement yesterday following queries about a video clip of the incident that has gone viral on social media.

“The acting provincial commissioner of the police in Gauteng‚ Major-General [Nombhuruza] Napo, has noted with concern a video clip that has gone viral‚ depicting a member of the South African Police Service [SAPS] prioritising personal needs over the needs of a member of the public”.

“Such conduct by any member of the SAPS is unbecoming and can never be condoned as ours is, first and foremost‚ to serve and to protect‚” Napo said in the statement.

Napo sanctioned an internal investigation into the matter.

The video was posted on Monday on Facebook by Livhuwami Siribana‚ who has since removed the clip.

“This women [sic] is busy sorting out her DStv acc while I waited at de [sic] front desk for more dan [sic] 30min [sic]‚ only to be told to come back tomorrow. Black service at its best‚” wrote Siribana on her post.

The police officer is seen speaking on the phone for several minutes as she discusses her DStv account.

“It’s giving me problems. You are charging me and it’s off,” the officer is heard saying as she speaks on the phone. “No they did not reverse it. If they say I owe MultiChoice R69 they didn’t reverse‚” she continues, while those capturing the video can be heard giggling in the background.

By Tuesday afternoon the clip had attracted 90 000 views and shared more than 2 400 times.

Some Facebook users praised Siribana for posting the video and exposing the type of service people often experience at public service institutions.

“Why does it surprise citizens anymore. Corrupt government = corrupt country‚” wrote Niraksha Ramnath.

But other users took offence at Siribana’s classification of her experience as “black service at its best”.

“It’s not black service‚ it’s one of many [black and white] bad cops‚” wrote Malusi Blessing Masiteng. –

Such conduct can never be condoned Major-General Nombhuruza Napo ACTING PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER OF POLICE