A senior police officer in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is in trouble after being seen in a viral video driving a police vehicle without a driver’s door.
KZN police demand answers after doorless SAPS driver goes viral
The video, which started circulating on social media on Monday, 2 June 2025, shows a police vehicle being driven on a public road with the driver’s door missing. The footage, though brief, sparked outrage and questions about police conduct and safety.
According to police, the vehicle had been in an accident the day before, on Sunday, 1 June 2025, in the Durban North policing area.
It had collided with a minibus taxi. At the time of the crash, the vehicle was being driven by a female Warrant Officer. She was trapped inside the vehicle after the crash, and emergency responders had to remove the driver’s door to rescue her.
After the crash, the vehicle was still in working condition but was no longer roadworthy — meaning it was not safe or legal to drive in that condition. Proper procedure would have been to tow the vehicle back to the police station.
However, instead of waiting for a tow truck, another Warrant Officer drove the vehicle back to the station, even though it was unsafe and against regulations.
This act drew a strong response from Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the Provincial Commissioner of Police in KwaZulu-Natal. He condemned the decision to drive the damaged vehicle, saying it put the officer’s life at risk and made the police look unprofessional.
“We are working so hard to protect the image of the police in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and we are doing our best to regain public trust,” said Mkhwanazi.
“The management of police in KwaZulu-Natal will not allow anyone to tarnish the image by disregarding regulations and procedures.”
He added that disciplinary steps would be taken against everyone involved — including the driver, the officer who instructed the vehicle to be driven, and any others who allowed the incident to happen.
While the video didn’t show it, SAPS later confirmed that the doorless vehicle was being escorted by another police car using blue lights. However, the fact that it was driven at all, despite the damage, remains the central issue.
Police authorities say they are committed to rebuilding trust with the public and maintaining discipline within the force.
