Camera footage shows a member of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) stuffing objects into her uniform.
With little objects in her hands, the woman can be seen walking back and forth. Despite being by alone in the aisle, she can be seen pacing back and forth, clearly confused of what to do next.
After stopping, she inserts something inside her trousers.
The woman then comes to a stop once more in the center of the aisle in front of a pillar. Although she has her back to the camera, she can be seen shoving objects inside her uniform and fixing her pants.
It is however not clear from the footage what the officer was allegedly stealing. But according to a date seen in the footage, the incident happened on Wednesday, 20 July.
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Mpho Phalatse, the mayor of Johannesburg, claims that she was informed of the CCTV footage on Thursday morning. She said that the video showed the JMPD officer in uniform reportedly stealing from a Clicks store in Jewel City, Maboneng.
“I immediately contacted the store management and requested the security video footage in order to assist the JMPD to identify the officer. The JMPD quickly conducted its own preliminary investigation, and positively identified the officer.”
Mayor Mpho Phalatse
The officer is immediately suspended while the investigations are being concluded. The mayor, however, has pushed Clicks management to file a criminal complaint against the JMPD officer.
“I applaud the swift response of the JMPD internal affairs unit in dealing with the matter. Incidents like this only widen the trust gap between the JMPD and residents.”
Under David Tembe, MMC for Public Safety, the city was hard at work cleaning up the metro police department.
According to Phalatse, six cops have been discharged in recent months for a variety of offenses.
“There is no space for criminal elements in the JMPD. Let this serve as a very strong warning to bad elements that exist across City departments and entities. Regardless of who you are, you will be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” the mayor said.