A KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police officer is set to face disciplinary action after a video went viral showing him driving a marked South African Police Service (SAPS) vehicle without a driver’s door.
The incident occurred on Sunday, 1 June 2025, in the Durban North policing area. The vehicle had earlier been involved in a collision with a minibus taxi. The widely shared video shows an officer driving the damaged police car, with the driver’s side completely missing.
According to police, the initial crash trapped a female Warrant Officer inside the vehicle, requiring the door to be removed to free her. However, instead of towing the damaged car, another Warrant Officer drove it back to the station—a decision that has drawn sharp criticism.
KZN Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi condemned the incident, stating that the vehicle, despite being operational, should not have been driven in an unroadworthy condition.
“Although the vehicle was being escorted by another police car—which the video does not show—it was still a violation of procedure to drive it without a door,” Mkhwanazi said. “This reckless behavior endangers lives and damages the reputation of the SAPS.”
A KZN police officer is facing disciplinary action after being captured on a viral video driving a marked Saps vehicle without the driver’s door. Video: Supplied #Police #KZN #Durban @TheCitizen_News pic.twitter.com/gpYc92bVTo
— 𝙵𝚊𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚕 𝙿𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕 ⚡️ (@FaizelPatel143) June 3, 2025
He emphasized that the officer who drove the vehicle, as well as anyone who authorized the decision, will face disciplinary action.
“We are working hard to restore public trust in the police, and such actions undermine our efforts,” Mkhwanazi added. “We will not tolerate any behavior that tarnishes the image of the SAPS or compromises safety.”
Police have promised further updates as the disciplinary process progresses.
