ACTING Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has insisted police officers must submit themselves to being searched when entering Woolworth’s stores across the province.
This follows reports in the media of officers complaining after they had been subjected to searches when entering Woolworths stores.
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Mkhwanazi said he supported the security measures put in place by Woolworths stores in KwaZulu-Natal following the recent discovery of incendiary devices in some of their stores. All customers are searched upon entering the store, including police officers in uniform.
Speaking on Thursday, Mkhwanazi said that his officers shouldn’t be shopping in uniform whether they were on duty or not.
“These searches are necessary to mitigate the risk posed to shoppers who visit these stores and we shall support such compulsory measures. Police officers who visit these stores as clients of Woolworths should be subject to the same procedures reserved for all customers, whether they are in uniform or not. The SAPS dress orders and other directives specifically prohibits police officers from shopping whilst in uniform, whether they are on or off duty and commanders at all levels are compelled to enforce these orders,” he said.
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