Social media have gone bananas after this woman was pictured holding bottles of alcohol – mostly empty – while sitting in the driver’s seat of a marked police car of the Ekurhuleni municipality in the East Rand region of Gauteng, South Africa.
The pictures – purported to be those of a Tshidi Ford – were circulating on Facebook during the weekend showing the woman drinking alcohol inside the police vehicle. Her Facebook profile says she resides in Tembisa, the Benoni City Times reported.
The women was fast to apologise after police said they are launching an investigation. Her explanation was: “My humble apologies to all. I have caused a stir by sneaking into an EMPD car while it was being washed and took pics. I’m really sorry – didn’t mean any harm [sic],” she said on her Facebook page.
The Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) said they need to establish if the woman is one of their officers. It’s also investigating whether the car was signed out by someone else and improperly used.
“This has terribly tainted the image of our organisation. A disciplinary action has to be initiated,” said a spokesman for the police department.
Most observers on social media were outrages while others wanted to be sure the investigation actually happens and have an outcome. Duane Ashwell said: “What I would personally like to see or hear is the outcome of said investigations. We never have any follow up investigation reports. While I admit I do at times travel a little fast I am usually passed by cops with no lights on indicating they are in an emergency. They really are not setting examples these days. I call for name and shame and let’s find out the outcomes of the investigations.”
