SAPS Brigadier Mathe Corrects Phakelumthakathi Outside Boksburg Court in Ekurhuleni Killings Case
- SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe clashed with anti-illegal immigration activist Phakelumthakathi outside the Boksburg Magistrates Court on 21 September 2026
- Phakelumthakathi alleged that a woman driving a Toyota had helped suspects lure victims in the Ekurhuleni killings case
- Mathe urged the public not to speculate and warned that unsupported claims could interfere with the ongoing police investigation
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Source: UGC
EKURHULENI — A tense exchange outside the Boksburg Magistrates Court on 21 September 2026 has drawn significant attention online, after South African Police Service spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe publicly challenged claims made by anti-illegal immigration activist Phakelumthakathi at the scene.
The two were captured on video outside the court on the day three suspects appeared in connection with the ninth body discovered in Ekurhuleni, a case that has alarmed residents across Gauteng.
Activist's claim challenged by Brigadier Mathe
Phakelumthakathi alleged that a woman driving a Toyota vehicle had played a role in luring victims to the suspects in the Ekurhuleni killings. Mathe responded directly, telling him that detectives leading the investigation must be allowed to work without interference from unverified claims circulating publicly.
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"I don't think we should speculate. I think let's leave it to the detectives," Mathe said during the exchange.
Mathe also addressed the broader public conversation around gender-based violence and femicide, pushing back on narratives centred on the absence of men as protectors. She described GBVF as a societal problem that extends beyond policing and cannot be reduced to a single community or gender dynamic.
"GBVF is a societal issue. It's deeper than what we can prevent," she said.
She added that many of these incidents occur behind closed doors and often involve people who know each other.
View the clip on X here:
Social media reaction
The clip drew sharp commentary from South Africans on X, with many siding with Mathe's measured approach.
@Bazooka9 wrote:
"Brigadier Mathe seemingly has a better understanding of this matter based on the 'GBVF is a broader societal problem than where are the men' narrative. She should workshop the 'where are the men' squad on it because that is all they are screaming at any given chance."
@AmilcarDBaleni commented:
"Brigadier is speaking alone. This guy can't hear anything she's saying. He has hidden his ideas in his mind, and it ends there."
@Easy_Tate added:
"She's speaking in tongues and making way too much sense for him to comprehend."
@Sibusisozwa offered a more balanced view:
"I like Phakelumthakathi, but sometimes he's too forward; you can't generalize like that."
@Mageba634 said:
"What are they doing there? They must leave and let the police do their work."
SAPS issues warning against circulating fake suspect images
In a related article, Briefly News reported on SAPS’s warning against sharing fake photos and unverified information linked to the Ekurhuleni murders. Police said no official suspect image or identikit had been released.
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Source: Briefly News
