Cop who crashed police vehicle in Calitzdorp still not arrested

On 9 December 2024, an off-duty police officer from Dysselsdorp Police Station crashed a SAPS vehicle after driving dangerously. No blood sample was taken and the police response at the time was that they could not take a blood sample at the scene because the officer was already in an ambulance and receiving medical treatment.

A passenger inside a vehicle driving behind the police vehicle captured a six-minute video showing the officer behind the wheel, drifting from side to side on the road between Dysselsdorp and Calitzdorp in the Western Cape.

At the time of the incident, Daily Maverick learnt from a police officer close to the investigation and an ambulance staff member who was on the scene that onlookers claimed police officers allegedly removed a bottle of whisky from the crashed police vehicle.

But there was nothing forthcoming from the SAPS on these allegations. The only response from Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Christopher Spies was that when police arrived at the accident scene, the off-duty officer was already in an ambulance with a drip attached and ready to be transferred to hospital.

Read more: Police fail to take blood sample from Calitzdorp cop who crashed vehicle into wall

On Thursday, 18 December, Daily Maverick questioned the SAPS on what progress had been made, including whether the officer had been arrested, taken to court and had criminal charges read to him, and whether he had been suspended.

Spies responded: “The matter referred to in your media enquiry is a subject of an ongoing police investigation. No arrest has been made yet.

“An internal investigation which runs parallel with the criminal investigation is also under way. This matter is regarded as an internal matter between the employer and employee. No other information pertaining to the internal investigation can be divulged at this stage.”

SAPS in its response fell short of stating whether the officer had been criminally charged, nor did it address claims that a police officer allegedly removed whisky from a crashed SAPS vehicle.

Spies previously confirmed criminal cases of reckless and negligent driving and the use of a vehicle without the owner’s consent were registered after a police vehicle hit a wall on the corners of Voortrekker and Van Rensburg streets, Calitzdorp on 9 December.

SAPS zero tolerance

This is in stark contrast to the stringent measures in place for the normal person on the street. When he/she is apprehended under suspicion of driving under the influence at a roadblock, a blood sample is meant to be taken and a person can be arrested on the spot.

National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, during the launch of the 2024/2025 National Safer Festive Season Operations on 11 November 2024, stated that until 31 January 2025, the SAPS would continue its campaign for heightened police visibility across the country. 

The nine focus areas SAPS will target in collaboration with metro police and traffic police across the country to enhance road safety include combating driving while under the influence of liquor, removing unroadworthy vehicles from the roads and ensuring motorists adhere to speed limits.

To emphasise this point, multiple multidisciplinary activities, including roadblocks, were carried out in the Sarah Baartman District, Eastern Cape, on Tuesday, 17 December.

SAPS, in collaboration with the Eastern Cape provincial traffic, local traffic officers, the department of transport and department of health, deployed forces in the district’s hotspot areas, resulting in the arrest of 16 motorists for drunk driving and 14 suspects for drug-related offences.

The first major roadblock was held along the R72 near Port Alfred and the second was on the R67 near Makhanda. The following successes were recorded:

• More than 1,000 motor vehicles were stopped and checked for outstanding warrants of arrest, driver compliance and roadworthiness;


• R26,200 in traffic fines were issued;


• Twenty warrants of arrest were finalised after the motorists decided to pay on the spot. The total amount collected was R16,350;


• Sixteen motorists were arrested for drink-driving;


• Fourteen suspects were also nabbed for drug-related offences.

Following the arrests, Sarah Baartman District Commissioner Major General Zolani Xawuka warned motorists not to drink and drive.

“We have a zero-tolerance approach on all our roads. As we are approaching these public holidays, the intensity of the operations is going to increase, so as to avoid deaths on our public roads,” said Xawuka

Four cops charged in December

While no action has been taken against the officer from Dysselsdorp, December has seen four police officers and one former warrant officer arrested on various charges and have appeared in courts across the country.

The first case is that of Constable Siyabonga Mbane (40), of the Mfuleni Police Station, who faced a rape charge in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court on 2 December. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is investigating.

According to Ipid spokesperson Lizzy Suping, the officer allegedly raped a female detainee at the Mfuleni Police Station. The alleged rape happened in the early hours on 28 November 2024. Information released by Ipid states the victim was apprehended for allegations and kidnapping and attempted murder and locked up with seven other female detainees.

“The victim alleges that she was raped by the accused in an empty cell. Thereafter she was taken back to her cell where she was locked [up] with the other detainees. The victim reported the incident to the police officers who started their shift in the morning,” Suping said.

The second case involves that of Constable Luthando Meintjies (27) who appeared in the Upington District Court on three counts of rape, three counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and one count of kidnapping on 9 December 2024.

According to Northern Cape NPA spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane, the incident began on 15 November 2024, when Meintjies arrived at his place of residence with the 23-year-old complainant at night, allegedly after having consumed alcohol.

“It is alleged that during the night the accused informed the complainant that she must call her mother as he wanted money to buy more beers, and when she could not get the money from her mother, he allegedly began to assault her and allegedly proceeded to rape her numerous times during the night. She tried to escape and hide in the bathroom, but the accused broke down the door to open it.

“Whilst all this was happening, she was able to send her uncle text messages for him to come and rescue her from the accused. The uncle arrived at the accused’s home with the police and the accused was arrested and charged with rape, assault GBH as well as kidnapping,” Senokoatsane said.

The matter has been remanded to 27 January 2025 for further investigation.

Meanwhile, on 10 December 2024, a lengthy investigation by officers of the Anti-Corruption Unit resulted in the arrest of a 58-year-old former warrant officer in Makhanda.

It is alleged that the former police officer stole drugs with an estimated value of R204,000 that were found abandoned in the Makhanda area.

According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, the drugs were booked in the Grahamstown SAPS register for disposal and were stolen before they were disposed of. The suspect was arrested and warned to appear at Grahamstown Magistrates’ Court on 14 January 2025.

In another incident, a police sergeant is among 10 suspects arrested for fraud at Sterkspruit on Wednesday, 11 December 2024.

Mawisa said: “The members attached to the Anti-Corruption Unit and Aliwal North Public Order Police (POP) embarked on an operation and arrested a sergeant who is allegedly involved in a fraud case that occurred in one of the filling stations at Sterkspruit. 

Mawisa said it was alleged that he [would] get cash back from the filling stations after using the SAPS fleet petrol card. “It is further alleged that he was working with cashiers and petrol attendants who were also arrested during the operation,” Mawisa said.

The most recent SAPS incident occurred on Tuesday, 17 December. This relates to an incident shared on social media platforms, wherein an off-duty police officer is seen assaulting a person at Rustenburg Police Station.

North West police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane said that the SAPS provincial management condemned the incident in the strongest possible terms.

“The occurrence followed an argument that ensued in a barber shop at one of the malls in Rustenburg and involving the police officer, assault victim and other people on Saturday afternoon, 14 December 2024. Following the incident, one of the victims went to the police station to lodge a complaint.

“Reports suggest that the police officer also went to the police station where he found the complainant at the parking area. Allegedly, he chased the complainant until inside the police station premises and assaulted him. The on-duty police officers swiftly intervened and calmed the situation,” Tselanyane explained.

The victim has opened a case of assault against the SAPS member who also laid a counter-charge of assault. An investigation into the matter is under way.

“Provincial police management pointed out that the member’s conduct is totally unacceptable and displays a total disrespect for the rule of law by a law enforcement officer,” Tselanyane said. DM