Two South African traffic police officers seen in a viral video eating from the boot of a car around stacks of cash and playing loud music have been suspended for three months.
'Money-eating' traffic officers in South Africa suspended after viral video
The South African police said the officers from Johannesburg’s Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) had brought the service into “disrepute” after displaying “unprofessional conduct”.
The video which went viral last week on social media showed the two uniformed men eating lunch in styrofoam packs next to stacks of R100 and R200 South African bank notes in the same packs.
One of them picked a note and wiped his mouth while a woman in the background, suspected to be the one filming, remarked in the Zulu language which literally meant: “Meat is being eaten, money is being eaten”.
Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago said in a statement on Thursday that the officers were given a chance to explain to the Chief of Police why they should not be suspended.
He added that they were ordered to hand in their uniforms and identification badges on Wednesday while internal investigations open into the incident.
The South African Police Minister Mbalula Fikile had earlier threatened on Twitter that they will be brought to justice.
Look at THIS shame….. Thugs in our mist, we will not true we eill find them and Bring them to justice…...Rule Of Law pic.twitter.com/wUgWqisxlk— RSA Police Minister (@MbalulaFikile) October 27, 2017
The public reacted to the minister’s comment saying there was no crime committed until proven otherwise.
Below is the video and some public reactions
The Traffic Cops are literally eating money. Cold drink money? pic.twitter.com/jRyYTtkLX5— A PimpNamedSlickBack (@iAmKingducer) October 28, 2017
Bring what to justice?? I don't see crime here?— Carol Masombuka (@lindorol107) October 27, 2017
They just got paid n enjoying fruits of their hard work,there's nothing wrong there— JohnJohn Msomi (@MsomiJohnjohn) October 27, 2017
They ain't traffic officers minister of tweets, they are WARDERS!? pic.twitter.com/23fqMsiLXG— YAZI ??? (@yazisani81) October 27, 2017
Maybe it's their salaries even ? pic.twitter.com/dIZSv5ocxR— Marisa (@TheEndUzer) October 27, 2017
That's our cash mos, road users. They don't get paid that much. It's our cold drink/lunch monies. Kulanto ba basoloko benxaniwe?— lifelover (@bongiwemhlalasa) October 27, 2017
Can you prove that they accepted bribes? A black man can't get paid on the 25th right?— Kante's right foot (@Sir_Menace) October 27, 2017
It could be their pay money, haibo, can’t they have fun at work? Leave them— Lu†endo Magoro (@LutendoMagoro) October 27, 2017
A they only bribed with R100 n R200 note only?? Anyway this a warders nt fraffic,,even if they were traffic no crime commited here— AVHA RAMUKOSI (@Avha_Ramukosi) October 27, 2017
So a black man cannot have money and flex on social media because he is working for the government, if you do you must arrested? Kwaal?? pic.twitter.com/2vWbWub99S— Can Dee Pennies (@mzansi_savage) October 27, 2017
You're classified as a hater. What public servants do when not on duty, it is none of anyone's damn business. Make money you'll stop hating pic.twitter.com/aSsWjaUSpO— Can Dee Pennies (@mzansi_savage) October 27, 2017
Real criminals are out there while your police are busy squeezing toddler ballz pic.twitter.com/erSs1W1rhe— Luu (@LoliweLuyanda) October 27, 2017
Arrest your corrupt President first…and leave those two.
You want to arrest them for eating? pic.twitter.com/cQmInemgRp— C A L V I N. (@CalvinDuncan17) October 27, 2017
Mos there is nothing wrong with this guy s Stokvel money…just focus on real criminals like Zuma and the Guptas. pic.twitter.com/3NMwjyGzQ4— ι αм fℓσ (@Flo_Taolo) October 27, 2017