Booze video: cop held

A police officer has been nabbed after an investigation revealed that a video clip which went viral on social media showing officers delivering alcohol to citizens is, in fact, true.

The Citizen reported on the video this week and at the time, SA Police Service (Saps) spokesman Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said it was not immediately clear whether the van in the video clip belonged to police, or whether the “alcohol” was delivered to a police station or a private residence.

Following The Citizen’s enquiries, police launched an investigation and yesterday confirmed that a case of using a motor vehicle without owners’ consent and a case of contravention of the Disaster Management Act had been opened against a police officer.

The incident took place at a shopping mall in Centurion, policed by the Lyttelton Saps.

An unconfirmed amount of alcohol was being offloaded from the van, suggesting a state vehicle was being used “to illegally convey alcohol in contravention of the adjusted Level 3 lockdown regulations”, police said.

The investigation was led by Tshwane district commissioner Major-General Hilda Mohajane, who said departmental proceedings were in place to deal with the officer’s “improper conduct”.

“When we saw the video clip our immediate concern was that no detail could be made out at face value, not even in which province the incident happened.

“An urgent and intensive investigation was therefore required to get to the bottom of this matter,” said acting Gauteng police commissioner Major-General Tommy Mthombeni.

“It is thus pleasing that the investigating officer and everyone who contributed to the investigation understood the seriousness with which management of the Saps viewed this incident,” Mthombeni said.

“Members of the public are urged to continue to report noncompliance 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,” he continued.