WATCH: SAPS ‘cap man’ committed at least 3 offences after illegally donning police hat, say cops

POLICE have warned members of the public against the unauthorised and illegal use of SAPS property, including uniforms, equipment, and emblems.

This comes after police noted a video clip circulating on social media platforms, in which a civilian can be seen in a marked police vehicle wearing a SAPS cap.

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This unauthorised use of SAPS property and the uniform is in direct contravention of the SAPS Act.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe explained that the civilian in question has committed at least three offences in terms of the SAPS Act; Section 66 (1), 68(1), and 68(3) in that he wore the emblems and official insignia of the SAPS.

“The man has thus created a false impression that he is lawfully associated with the police service by being in a marked police vehicle and wearing the badge and emblem of the SAPS, which is protected by law.

“The SAPS thus takes this opportunity to educate members of the public that the wearing of a uniform or distinctive marks of the SAPS by a person who is not a member or who does not have permission to do so from the National Commissioner, is an offence.

“Civilians are therefore discouraged from using or wearing police property to avoid having a criminal record. We are currently investigating this matter,” she said.

In the video, which went viral online recently, the man can be seen sitting in a police van, wearing a SAPS cap.

Neither the offender nor the person who can be heard talking to him is speaking one of South Africa’s 11 official languages, calling into question the nationality of the man in question.

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