WATCH VIDEO| Police Officers Filmed Sleeping For Hours In SAPS Van Sparks Outrage

A video circulating on social media showing three police officers fast asleep inside a marked South African Police Service (SAPS) vehicle has ignited public outrage — and renewed calls for accountability within the force.

According to the person who recorded the footage, the SAPS van was spotted parked in an open field near an unnamed mall shortly before 1pm. When the individual returned more than two hours later, at 3:02pm, the officers were still there — apparently asleep.

The clip, which has been widely shared across X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, shows the police vehicle idling under the midday sun, with the officers visibly resting inside.

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“This is what our taxes pay for,” one furious commenter wrote. Another user added: “We do not pay them to sleep on duty — this is embarrassing.”

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However, some South Africans came to the officers’ defence, arguing that exhaustion is a real challenge in law enforcement. “They are not robots. Maybe they worked a double shift protecting the community,” one user commented.

SAPS Yet to Identify the Police  Officers

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said the Western Cape SAPS could not identify the officers or the location of the incident, as no official complaint had been registered.

“This office cannot identify the members or the vehicle,” Van Wyk stated.

The video comes amid growing criticism of the police’s conduct and internal discipline, with many calling for stronger oversight and accountability.

‘A Breakdown of Discipline in SAPS’

The Democratic Alliance’s Member of Parliament and Select Committee member on Security and Justice, Nicholas Gotsell, said the footage highlighted a “growing breakdown of discipline” within the police service.

“Officers must be alert and do their job — which is to protect the community. This is not about tiredness; it’s about accountability,” Gotsell said.

He also criticised provincial leadership for failing to act decisively against misconduct.
“When the Provincial Commissioner condones the dismissal of disciplinary findings, even in serious cases, it sends a message that there are no consequences for wrongdoing. That’s why we see this kind of behaviour.”

Gotsell added that while most officers in blue serve with dedication, their reputation is being “tainted by a few who treat the uniform with disrespect.”

“When a marked police van becomes a hotel room,” he said, “public trust in law enforcement goes to sleep too.”

He has since called on the Western Cape Police Commissioner to publicly name and shame the officers involved and to confirm what disciplinary action will be taken.

At the time of publication, SAPS had not confirmed whether an internal investigation had been launched.

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