Madlanga Commission to grill JMPD over alleged bribery, criminal infiltration and corruption - IOL

JMPD officer Johannes Mokgatle was allegedly found at businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe’s residence after falsely reporting sick for duty, the Madlanga Commission has heard.

Madlanga Commission will resume its public hearings on Tuesday, with a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) senior officer expected to respond to allegations of criminal infiltration, syndicate collusion, bribery and abuse of police resources.

The commission will resume its public hearings on Day 173, with testimony expected to examine allegations that criminal networks have established links within the JMPD and that some officers may have worked with criminal syndicates.

Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed the focus of Tuesday’s proceedings.

“On Tuesday (Day 173), the Commission will hear testimony regarding infiltration of the JMPD by criminal networks, and collusion between JMPD officers and criminal syndicates,” Michaels said.

The hearings follow serious allegations against JMPD officers, including claims linked to a multimillion-rand gemstone theft, the alleged protection of a murder suspect with suspected cartel connections and extensive traffic-related bribery.

One of the most serious cases involves the alleged theft of gemstones worth R14.9 million from a Killarney flat in 2023.

JMPD Inspector Witness K, who testified in camera, allegedly admitted taking part in the planning and execution of the operation to seize high-grade sugilite and manganese stones.

She also implicated suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi, her romantic partner, alleging that information about the stones was used in what was presented as a law-enforcement operation.

Witness K was later arrested and appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court in connection with the alleged heist.

The commission has also heard allegations against JMPD K9 officer Johannes Makgatle, who was accused of assisting Katiso “KT” Molefe, an alleged member of the so-called Big 5 drug cartel.

Evidence alleged that Makgatle claimed sick leave but was present at Molefe’s home during an arrest operation.

He was further accused of using a JMPD vehicle without authorisation while off duty and attempting to interfere with investigators.

The JMPD subsequently moved to charge him.

Corruption allegations have added further pressure, with testimony highlighting claims of large-scale bribery and extortion involving metro traffic officers.

The commission heard that alleged traffic-related corruption had reached R1.5 million in a single day.

The inquiry has also demanded detailed records of JMPD security tenders amid scrutiny of alleged procurement irregularities.