A video circulating on social media platforms since 5 August 2026 depicts a South African Police Service (SAPS) officer allegedly assaulting a female member of the public who was carrying a child at a police station in the small town of Davel, Mpumalanga. Social media posts frequently refer to the location as “Devel,” a common misspelling of the town’s name.
Davel is a small community in Mpumalanga. Public records confirm the existence of a SAPS Davel Police Station at 280 Ermelo Road, Davel, 2320. The station falls under the provincial policing structures of Mpumalanga.
On 5 August 2026, the official SAPS account issued a formal statement under the hashtag #sapsMP. The statement read that police management in Mpumalanga had noted “with concern and dismay” a video circulating on social media platforms in which a police officer is seen assaulting a female member of the community at a police station.
According to the statement, the police officer involved has since been identified. Departmental disciplinary processes have been instituted against him. The statement described the conduct as “unacceptable, unlawful and goes against the values and code of conduct of the South African Police Service.”
It further stated that police officers have the responsibility to protect lives, uphold the law and serve with integrity and professionalism. SAPS reaffirmed its commitment to the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and assured the public that the law would take its course without fear or favour.
The statement specifically urged the female community member to open a criminal case so that the matter can be investigated by the relevant department.
Subsequent reports on 6 August 2026 stated that SAPS in Mpumalanga had confirmed it would take legal action against the officer in connection with the incident. These reports referenced the same video and the official identification of the officer.
No official information has been released regarding the exact date and time the alleged incident occurred, the full circumstances preceding the recorded footage, the identities of the officer or the woman, or the age or condition of the child. No confirmation has been made public as to whether a criminal case has been opened by the woman or whether the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has opened a parallel investigation.
The video itself shows physical contact between the officer and the woman while she is holding a child inside or at the entrance area of a police facility. Multiple copies of the footage have been shared across platforms, contributing to its rapid circulation.
As of the latest available information, the matter remains at the stage of internal disciplinary processes within SAPS, with an open invitation for the woman involved to formalise a criminal complaint. No further official updates on the progress of the disciplinary process or any criminal investigation have been issued.
This account is based solely on the official SAPS statement of 5 August 2026, contemporaneous social media circulation of the video, and publicly verifiable details about the Davel police station.
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