Bekkersdal turned into a battlefield of uniforms this week when JMPD Tactical Response officers, on a mission to recover a stolen vehicle, were arrested by SAPS.
Five TRU officers, along with two foreign nationals, face charges including trespassing, malicious damage to property, attempted theft, defeating the ends of justice, and contravening the Immigration Act.
According to reports, the Bekkersdal SAPS members responded after the community mobilised against a TRU operation in the area. The TRU had been addressing a rising threat in the West Rand, where there has been a spike in house robberies and vehicle hijackings allegedly carried out by suspects disguised in traffic and metro police uniforms, driving vehicles with blue lights.
While Provincial Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni defended the arrests as lawful, Johannesburg’s MMC for Public Safety, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, said they were not.
Tshwaku criticised the actions of Bekkersdal SAPS, stating: “This troubling incident, which occurred during a legitimate vehicle recovery operation, underscores a disturbing breakdown in inter-agency cooperation that threatens both operational integrity and public safety across Gauteng.”
He also explained that on October 17, 2025, TRU officers, acting on credible intelligence regarding a stolen vehicle, had located and begun processing its recovery when SAPS members arrived unannounced and arrested JMPD officers on what appeared to be baseless charges.
“In what appears to be a blatant abuse of power, SAPS confiscated the officers’ service firearms, cell phones, and vehicles, detaining them for the entire weekend without due process. When JMPD Internal Affairs investigators arrived to seek clarity, they were refused access and dismissed by Bekkersdal SAPS personnel, who failed to account for the arrests or charges.”
Preliminary intelligence from JMPD TRU and K9 units indicates that the vehicle belonged to a known zama zama kingpin in the West Rand. Dr Tshwaku said this raises serious concerns over SAPS Bekkersdal’s motives, as officers appeared to prioritise arresting JMPD members over disrupting organised crime.
“The detained officers were reportedly scheduled to appear in court; however, the lack of clear communication and administrative inconsistencies have resulted in confusion about the venue and status of their appearance, further compounding the injustice faced by our members.”
He has further has further called on Mthombeni and relevant oversight authorities to address the matter with urgency and transparency, ensuring that the principles of lawful and effective policing are upheld.
Saturday Star