Durban - A kwaito music star has been charged for wearing a police uniform to the Metro Music Awards, eThekwini metro police said on Tuesday.
Senior Superintendent Eugene Msomi said kwaito star Mkhonzeni “Professor” Langa would be charged with impersonating a police officer, possession of a police uniform and wearing a police uniform.
Msomi said Langa contacted the metro police on Monday evening, made a statement to the police on Tuesday morning, and had been taken to the Durban Magistrate's Court.
He told police he had taken his cousin's uniform, without his knowledge, on Saturday.
Msomi said there would be an internal inquiry into Langa's cousin's conduct.
On Monday, the Mercury newspaper reported that the matter had been referred to the eThekwini metro police's professional standards inspectorate.
The SA Police Service Act states that it is an offence for anyone who is not a police officer to wear a police uniform. Permission needs to be obtained. Unauthorised use of metro police uniforms is also regulated by the act.
If convicted, Langa could be fined or sentenced to six months in jail.
Impersonating a police officer carries a jail term of up to two years.
According to the Mercury, eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo was among those who saw Langa receiving his two awards in the uniform. - Sapa