Johannesburg – Gauteng Police have rejected allegations that five Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officers were unlawfully arrested in Bekkersdal.
This follows claims by the City’s MMC for Public Safety that the South African Police Service (SAPS) fabricated charges against the JMPD Tactical Response Unit.
“The JMPD Tactical Response Unit (TRU) officers responded to a tip-off and proceeded to recover a suspected stolen vehicle. While processing the scene, SAPS members from Bekkersdal arrived and arrested the JMPD officers,” the MMC said on X.
“The charges brought forward appear to lack substantive basis. The officers’ service firearms, vehicles, and mobile devices were confiscated, and they were detained over the weekend. It has also been reported that JMPD Internal Affairs officials were not given information when attempting to inquire about the arrests.”
♦️ Earlier Today ♦️
The MMC for Public Safety attended court proceedings in Westonaria following the arrest of five members of the JMPD Tactical Response Unit (TRU) and two officers from the Recovery Unit by SAPS.
According to preliminary information, the TRU officers responded… pic.twitter.com/yQAzSodgkc
— COJ People’s MMC Public Safety (@PublicSafetyMMC) October 20, 2025
According to EWN, Provincial Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni clarified that the arrests were lawful and followed community reports about a raid conducted by the unit.
Four JMPD officers and two undocumented foreign nationals were detained and have already appeared in the Westonaria Magistrates Court.
SAPS spokesperson Brenda Muridili said police leadership is satisfied the arrests were conducted legally.
“The provincial commissioner, upon engaging with the district commissioner, is satisfied that the members have acted within the bounds of the law,” the report quoted Muridili as saying.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
