Metro cops, SAPS calls truce as charges against officers withdrawn

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The Johannesburg Metro Police Department and SA Police Services have reached consensus to work together with no boundaries resulting in charges against arrested officers being dropped.

A move welcomed by City of Johannesburg Public Safety MMC, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, on the back of the arrest of five members of the JMPD Tactical Response Unit (TRU) and two officers from the Recovery Unit by Bekkersdal SAPS, last month.

According to reports, this comes after the 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 charges brought forward appear to lack substantive basis, said Tshwaku at the time.

He further urged Gauteng Premier and Cogta MEC to intervene so the two forces can sit down, iron out the operational disputes.

However, in an official statement, Gauteng police spokesperson, Brigadier Brenda Muridili said the provincial commissioner upon engaging with the district commissioner, is satisfied that the members have acted within the bounds of the law.

“It is reported that the members from Bekkersdal were called to the scene by the community following a community mobilisation against the said raid by TRU.

“The swift response by members emanates from a threat which is emerging in the West Rand policing area where the district has experienced a recent spike in cases of house robberies and vehicle hijackings,” she expressed.

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Brig Muridili stated that this is allegedly committed by suspects wearing traffic police and metro police uniforms, driving in vehicles with blue lights and highlighted that the district is therefore on high alert and they have increased police visibility.

In a move seen as retaliation, seven police officers were arrested by the Johannesburg metro police tactical reaction unit for allegedly extorting a man in possession of material believed to be unrefined gold. 

Both SAPS and JMPD have previously distanced themselves, saying the cases are before the courts, while internal investigations continue.

Metro cops and SAPS sign MoU

Tshwaku called the withdrawal of charges against the JMPD members a “well-done” moment for both agencies.

He stressed that the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed by SAPS, the metro and the province exist precisely to knock down jurisdiction walls and keep crime fighting seamless across the city.

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The MMC for Public Safety welcomes the withdrawal of charges by SAPS against JMPD members. This development reinforces our position that effective safety in Johannesburg depends on strong collaboration between law-enforcement agencies.

The memorandum signed… pic.twitter.com/3EUuXHS1FN

— COJ People’s MMC Public Safety (@PublicSafetyMMC) November 15, 2025

“The memorandum says there are no borders between us anymore; we must work together, not against each other,” said Dr Tshwaku.

The MMC reiterated that public safety depends on collaboration, not on “unlawful arrests” that only erode trust and hamper operations.