MMC for Public Safety Dr Mgcini Tshwaku Notes Granting of Bail to JMPD Officers and Condemns Unlawful Arrest by SAPS

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MMC for Public Safety Dr Mgcini Tshwaku Notes Granting of Bail to JMPD Officers and Condemns Unlawful Arrest by SAPS

The MMC for Public Safety, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, notes with relief the granting of bail to members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) Tactical Response Unit (TRU) and Recovery Unit following their unlawful arrest and detention by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Bekkersdal.

We have now been able to speak directly with our members about the events that transpired, as SAPS had previously denied JMPD Internal Affairs access to them during their detention. 

Below is the sequence of events as recounted by the affected officers:

On 17 October 2025, JMPD TRU officers, acting on credible intelligence regarding a suspected stolen Toyota Hilux belonging to an illegal miner (zama zama) who had been underground for nine months, located the vehicle at a premises in Bekkersdal. 

Accompanied by an informant who could identify the vehicle, they arrived at the location, requested assistance from a tow truck to facilitate inspection, and knocked on the closed gate. 

Two individuals emerged from the premises and fled by jumping over the back wall, damaging the electric fence in the process. This suspicious behavior confirmed the officers’ intelligence, prompting them to lift the gate to gain entry and pursue the matter.

The suspects escaped, and while the officers were examining the vehicle—noting its Free State registration and absence of a license disc—to verify the VIN and confirm its status, SAPS officers arrived on the scene. 

The SAPS members accused the JMPD officers of robbery in the area, pointed firearms at them, confiscated their phones and service firearms, and handcuffed them without specifying any charges. 

At Bekkersdal police station, a captain who recognized one of the officers claimed this was not their first such incident, ordered them into cells without providing any documentation or allowing them to make phone calls, and seized their belongings. 

The officers were then transferred to Randfontein SAPS, where detention  was refused, before being moved to Kagiso SAPS for the remainder of the weekend, with explicit instructions that they not be placed in the same cell.

On 20 October 2025, they were transported for a court appearance, but the venue changed multiple times—from Randfontein to the Western Area court—resulting in them being held for the entire day. The charges against them were altered three times during their detention. Ultimately, four officers were granted bail, while another required a formal bail application due to a protection order against him. 

Based on the information provided by our arrested members, it is clear that SAPS abused their power in this incident. There have been numerous prior cases where SAPS members have abused their authority against metro police officers, including instances of shooting and killing them. This unlawful arrest not only undermines inter governmental relations but also compromises public safety by hindering legitimate law enforcement operations against crime.

We request the Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and COGTA MEC Jacob Mamabolo to address these escalating tensions between South African police and Metropolitan. Memorandum of agreements have been signed, that SAPS and Metropolitan must work together and there will be no limitation on where Metropolice works. 

The City of Johannesburg calls for an urgent investigation into this matter by the Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, to prevent further erosion of trust between law enforcement entities and to safeguard the rule of law. 

The JMPD remains committed to combating crime and protecting the residents of Johannesburg, and we will not be deterred by such baseless interference.

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