Off-Duty Cop Caught on Camera Using SAPS Van for Grocery Shopping, Sparking Debate on Misuse of Resources

• An off-duty Limpopo police officer has sparked debate about whether cops should use SAPS vans for personal errands
• The officer was caught on camera allegedly using a police van to buy groceries with his young children
• Some South Africans don't believe the officer did anything wrong, while others criticised him for misusing state resources

LIMPOPO - An off-duty South African Police Service (SAPS) officer was caught red-handed allegedly misusing state resources in Limpopo.

Armed with a smartphone, an unknown good Samaritan recorded the officer out and about running personal errands using an official SAPS van.

Limpopo officer loads groceries in marked SAPS van

The video was posted on Twitter by crime activist Yusuf Abramjee and sparked a debate among South Africans.

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In the video, the officer, who is wearing casual shorts and a t-shirt, can be seen loading groceries in the back of a marked police van.

He is accompanied by two minors who social media users assumed were his children.

While some people see nothing wrong with the officer using the police van to go grocery shopping, others criticised him for misusing state resources.

South Africans debate cop using SAPS van for grocery shopping

Below are some comments:

@JanMbetse commented:

'In marketing management, it is called misusing company assets. The law is clear to those who follow it."

@KopediAphane asked:

"I hear what you’re saying, neh, but I also want to ask you. In your 9-5 days, have you ever not used a company phone to make private calls?"

@eye2checkmate complained:

"This is not an uncommon situation... marked SAPS state vehicles were also used by members to attend sports events, while there are no vehicles to attend to complaints and crime scenes."

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@Xixikoi3 stated

"Anyone who is driving a company/state car who never went and do personal affairs with it, raise your hands."

@qualimk criticised:

"A sad situation indeed, at that time you're desperate for help."

@nkuna_alton said:

"Someone out there is desperately waiting for SAPS to arrive but ke there are no vehicles at the station."

Durban cop arrested for getting a tow truck to steal a Ford Ranger at police pound, Mzansi disappointed

Earlier, Briefly News reported a Durban police officer's sticky fingers are about to land him in prison after he was arrested for allegedly stealing an impounded vehicle. The police officer is facing theft charges.

The police officer was implicated after another cop noticed a tow truck at the police pound. According to IOL, the incident occurred on Sunday morning, 25 June.

Provincial police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said a tow truck was seen at the Isipingo SAPS pound at around 9am transporting a Ford Ranger.

Source: Briefly News