6 JMPD Officers Found Guilty of Corruption, Public Safety MMC Says “Hyenas Could Not Be in Charge of Sheep”

• Six Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officers and two security guards were found guilty of corruption
• Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee on Public Safety David Tembe said corruption would not be tolerated
• The officers were arrested during a Hawks sting operation after taking R15 000 from a suspect and later freeing him

JOHANNESBURG - The long arm of the law has finally prevailed against six Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officers and two security guards. They were found guilty of corruption after being arrested in 2019 for taking R15 000 from a suspect.

Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee on Public Safety David Tembe confirmed the conviction during an interview with SABC News. He said corruption would not be tolerated, and there is a zero-tolerance policy for police officers who take bribes.

Read also

National shutdown: Citizens called to take a stand against rising cost of living, fuel prices, blackouts

Tembe said as long as he is in charge of public safety, those responsible for sexual harassment and corruption in terms of taking money from members of the public will be dealt with. He added that hyenas could not be in charge of sheep.

The officers were arrested during a Hawks sting operation in Johannesburg. According to eNCA, they patrolled the Cleveland area when they stopped a vehicle and searched the occupant. They seized an unlicensed firearm and demanded the amount of R15 000. The suspect was later freed.

South Africans react to the police officers being found guilty:

Make-peace Motaung said:

“Corruption and bribes will destroy you. Our people never learn.”

Simphiwe Frenchname Phokwana wrote:

“Law enforcement officers on the wrong side of the law, not surprising in SA.”

Edward Shepherd posted:

Read also

EFF Deputy Floyd Shivambu weighs in on Bheki Cele's outburst, says it was because of "sins he’s hiding"

“Lock them up.”

Codnell Makaringe added:

“They are corrupt or shall I say it is because they got into those positions by corruption, so there’s no way they can serve cleanly.”

Police, army officials arrested: Shootout, hostage situation at church

In a related matter, Briefly News also reported a hostage situation and shootout in the early hours of Saturday morning saw five fatalities. The incident took place at the International Pentecostal Holiness Church in Zuurbekom, Johannesburg.

The South African Police Service has confirmed that the five victims had been found deceased on the scene one of which was a security guard found in his car. Six of the over 40 suspects that were placed under arrest were taken to the hospital.

Source: Briefly News