A sergeant stationed at Lentegeur police station is out on R1 000 bail after allegedly driving under the influence and crashing into a Golden Arrow bus in Mitchells Plain on Monday morning.
The 48-year-old police sergeant, who was off duty at the time is seen in videos circulating online appearing confused with his pants on back-to-front after attempting to flee the scene. The incident occurred at around 8:20am on the corner of Eisleben Road and Lavender Street.
One video shows the sergeant’s silver Mercedes Benz crashing head-on into the front of the Golden Arrow bus.
The officer is then seen walking away from the scene while onlookers were poking fun at pants, saying: " The zip must be in the front, officer. (Die zip moet voor wees officer)".
Another video shows the sergeant being held by a law enforcement officer on one side and a police officer on the other, being taken back to the scene after running away. The sergeant’s pants are back-to-front, with one trouser leg lifted up and a shoelace on one shoe untied.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed the incident. “Lentegeur police registered a case of driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless and negligent driving following an accident on March 31 at about 8.20am at the corner of Eisleben Road and Lavender Street, Lentegeur, involving a 48-year-old sergeant attached to Lentegeur SAPS."
According to reports, the sergeant was driving a silver Mercedes-Benz and collided with a Golden Arrow bus at the mentioned address. He was arrested and taken to the Shadow Centre in Athlone, where his blood was collected for analysis by a registered nurse. His vehicle was severely damaged in the front and was towed away from the scene.
"The sergeant was detained at Lentegeur SAPS and appeared in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates court on Tuesday, 1 April. He was released on bail of R1 000.”
Michael Jacobs from the Lentegeur Community Policing Forum's said it was fortunate that no one was injured.
“The alleged incident took place while the officer was off duty and it is now part of a criminal and internal investigation that has been launched by Lentegeur SAPS and we will await the outcome of both processes as a CPF.”
Bronwen Dyke-Beyer, Public Relations Manager for Golden Arrow Bus Services, confirmed the incident. “Golden Arrow can confirm an incident that occurred on 31 March on Lavender Road, Mitchells Plain, at approximately 08:19.
According to our bus driver and witnesses at the scene, the third-party driver swerved into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with our bus. The third-party driver is allegedly a police officer who was off duty, but we are unable to confirm what caused him to swerve into the bus. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.”
Cape Argus