Sadly, videos of on-duty cops under the influence of alcohol are commonplace in South Africa.

Back in February, we saw two in the space of less than a week, and as we near the festive season it looks like it’s full steam ahead once more.

The latest video to do the rounds comes via Wolmaransstad in the North West, where a constable is expected to appear in court today.

In the footage, we see the aftermath of the constable having driven a police vehicle into a fence.

At one stage, towards the end of the video, you can see him clasping plastic bags that one might assume contain beer bottles, given the clinking.

News24 has shared the footage, taken by a community member:

Police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said police management was appalled by his “unprofessional and unbecoming conduct”.

Cases of driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless and negligent driving have been opened.

Mokgwabone said preliminary investigations also revealed that the constable was not authorised to drive a state vehicle. He faces an additional charge of using a vehicle without the owner’s consent. A departmental investigation will also be instituted.

This sort of behaviour needs to have serious consequences, because the videos are all too frequent, and you can only imagine how many similar incidents go unrecorded.

Our roads are already dangerous enough, especially heading into the festive season.

[source:news24]