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The Citizen reports that the arrests by SA Police Service (SAPS) officers of five Joburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Tactical Response Unit (TRU) members has caused a big upset, with SAPS cops accused of “abusing” their power.
MMC for Public Safety Mgcini Tshwaku expresses profound outrage and concern over what he called the “unlawful arrest” of the JMPD officers by police at Bekkersdal on Friday. According to Tshwaku, the JMPD officers received credible intelligence information regarding a stolen vehicle and initiated the process of recovering it. He said: “While the JMPD officers were securing evidence and preparing for impoundment, SAPS officers from Bekkersdal station arrived unannounced and proceeded to arrest our team on baseless and fabricated charges. This incident, which occurred during a legitimate vehicle recovery operation, highlights a disturbing pattern of interference and hostility that undermines collaborative law enforcement efforts in Gauteng and endangers public safety.”
Tshwaku went on to claim: “In a blatant abuse of power, Saps confiscated our officers’ personal firearms, cellular phones, and official vehicles, detaining them over the entire weekend without due process.” Tshwaku said the vehicle was believed to belong to a notorious illegal mining syndicate kingpin operating in the West Rand area. “This raises serious questions about potential conflicts of interest and whether certain elements within SAPS are prioritizing protection of criminal networks over public safety,” Tshwaku said. In response, Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni said the police officers acted lawfully in arresting the JMPD members.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Faizel Patel at The Citizen.
- Lees ook, SAPD verdedig TRU-inhegtenisnemings in Wes-Rand, by Maroela Media
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