Two police officers from Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal have been suspended after a viral video showed them using a state-owned police vehicle to transport a learner to a matric dance. The incident, which occurred on August 20, 2025, has drawn sharp criticism from Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The video, widely shared on social media, captures the uniformed officers arriving at the dance venue with sirens activated as they dropped off a colleague’s child. The incident sparked public outrage, particularly from residents who reported delayed police response to a robbery occurring during the same period.
[JUST-IN] KwaZulu-Natal police provincial commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has instructed that police officers who transported a learner to a matric dance using a police vehicle in Estcourt be temporarily removed from operation pending internal probe. 🎥: Supplied @_NMabaso pic.twitter.com/EkeaSGBByq
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) August 28, 2025
Commissioner Mkhwanazi immediately ordered the officers’ suspension and launched a full internal investigation. He condemned the misuse of police resources intended for community protection and ordered the recovery of costs for fuel and vehicle wear from the officers involved.
Public reaction has been mixed, with some social media users finding humor in the situation while others expressed serious concerns about police priorities and resource allocation. The incident has intensified scrutiny of police conduct in the province, particularly coming from Commissioner Mkhwanazi who has recently been at the center of several high-profile law enforcement controversies.
The police have encouraged anyone with additional information to contact Crime Stop anonymously at 08600 10111 as the investigation continues to determine whether this was an isolated incident or part of a broader pattern of misuse of police resources.