An off-duty Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officer has been arrested after a City bakkie crashed into an informal home in Delft, Cape Town.
The incident happened shortly before 1pm on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, inside the Covid informal settlement.
According to the Cape Argus, the 31-year-old officer allegedly lost control of the law enforcement vehicle before crashing into the makeshift structure. No injuries were reported.
Officer arrested after crash
Western Cape police spokesperson Thembakazi Mpendukana confirmed that the officer was arrested and detained at Delft police station.
Police said he faces charges of driving under the influence and reckless driving.
The officer was expected to make his first appearance in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 14 August 2026.
The allegations against him will still have to be tested in court.
City confirms officer was off duty
City of Cape Town Law Enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason said officials were alerted to the crash shortly before 1pm.
Information available to the department indicated that the officer veered off the road while driving a Law Enforcement bakkie and collided with an informal structure.
Dyason confirmed that SAPS arrested the officer on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
He also said the City was not aware of anyone being injured during the incident.
Disciplinary process to follow
The City said the matter would also be handled through its internal disciplinary procedures.
The incident comes as LEAP officers continue to operate in several high-crime areas across Cape Town, including Delft. The City said in June that LEAP deployments had been concentrated in Delft, Khayelitsha, Philippi East, Nyanga, Mitchells Plain and Gugulethu since September 2024.
The programme forms part of Cape Town’s broader law-enforcement response and works alongside SAPS in crime-affected communities.
For the Delft residents whose home was struck, the crash caused an unexpected disruption but, according to authorities, did not result in any reported injuries.