Mpumalanga police would like to seize the opportunity to allay concerns by the public regarding a fully marked state-owned vehicle from Standerton, which was driven by a SAPS member who allegedly appeared to be intoxicated as captured in a video that is circulating on various social media platforms. The management refutes all material misperceptions that the police officer was drunk or under the influence of any intoxicating substance. The medical evidence at police management’s disposal has revealed that the officer has a certain medical condition that cannot be disclosed to the public. That medical condition temporarily subjected him to a state of automatism. This unforeseen incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Saturday, 20 February 2021 at Standerton.
On the said day, the police officer who is attached to the Standerton Police Station, was on-duty driving in a state-owned vehicle when he had this medical attack which was unknown to him and he has never suffered from it before. This resulted in him colliding with a brick wall of private property. The doors of the vehicle were locked with the officer inside alone. The said condition rendered him motionless without anybody coming to his rescue until he got assistance from other police members who came to the scene as soon as they were notified. These members then used another key to open the door for him and then realised that he was unconscious. They immediately took the said officer to the hospital for medical treatment.
A case of reckless and negligent driving was also opened for purposes of investigation meanwhile the police officer is slowly recovering and the necessary support from Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) within the service is being given to him so that he can fully return to a normal state of health, mind, and strength.