Mpumalanga is intending to conduct roadblocks aimed at arresting police officers who will be found misusing state vehicles or driving them without permits.
Mpumalanga Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe made the announcement on Friday at a hand-over ceremony of 79 new police vehicles to various police stations.
Shongwe said he was aware that communities complain that the shortage of police vehicles at the stations were due to misuse by some officers who utilised them to do their private things.
People are raising genuine concerns out there. It is true that some officers are corrupt and misuse police vehicles by visiting their girlfriends, ferry people or transport illegal goods using these vehicles.
From now on, we will ensure that every police vehicle on the road is properly dispatched and occupants are authorised to be in those vehicles.
"Anyone who will be found to be on the wrong side of the law will be subjected to appropriate disciplinary action. We cannot tolerate ill-disciplined officers; they will all be flushed out of the system. We rather have few good officers instead of the huge number of ineffective police officers," said MEC Shongwe.
The MEC explained that it was the responsibility of police officers to ensure that their credibility is demonstrated to the public. He said they needed to use the vehicles as if they owned them because the community will be playing the watch-dog role.
"Keep these vehicles new, I do not want to see scratches, these are your working tools, they are yours," he said.
Speaking at the same event, Community Policing Forum Provincial Chairperson, Mr Mandla Mphuti appreciated Mpumalanga SAPS management saying the tools will enhance police visibility in the communities.
Mphuti added that there would be no excuses from the police for not attending to crime scenes.
He emphasised that the officers who will be utilising the vehicles be trained for advanced driving in order for the vehicles to remain in good condition.
According to the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thulani Ntobela, the 79 vehicles handed over on Friday is still the first batch. More vehicles will be delivered in due course to further enhance policing in the province.