By Johnathan Paoli
Criminal networks are operating inside parts of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), using officers to protect illicit operations, steal cash and drugs, and interfere with investigations, the department’s Internal Affairs head told the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday.
Superintendent Elmarie de Beer said the Tactical Response Unit (TRU), Special Patrol Units (SPUs) and, to a lesser extent, the K9 Unit were the units most frequently implicated in cases that had come to Internal Affairs’ attention.
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“Over time, internal affairs has identified a pattern of collusion between certain JMPD officers and criminal elements outside,” De Beer said.
The commission’s terms of reference specifically include whether criminal syndicates have infiltrated or exerted undue influence over the JMPD and other law-enforcement bodies.
De Beer said alleged criminal networks relied on civilians acting as “informers” or spotters who identified potential victims and tracked businesses transporting cash.
The civilians were often employees of targeted businesses or people who were willing to participate in criminal activity in return for payment, she said.
Cash-intensive businesses, particularly hardware stores, as well as businesses dealing in gold, diamonds, precious stones, metals and copper, were among those targeted.
“It typically involved collaboration between JMPD officers, SAPS members, Hawks members, and the ultimate buyer and the sellers of goods or stolen goods,” De Beer said.
She said Internal Affairs had also received information linking JMPD officers to human trafficking and drugs, although there were no formal reports on which the unit could act.
Much of De Beer’s evidence concerned former senior JMPD officer Phineas Manyama, whom she identified as a former TRU commander.
She alleged that Manyama exercised extensive control over members of the unit and designated certain areas as “no-go” zones for TRU officers.
Selected officers were allegedly instructed to escort trucks carrying stolen copper, after which the drivers and vehicles would be taken away and the copper stolen, De Beer said.
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In one incident, she said TRU members pursuing a vehicle suspected of carrying drugs were ordered to abandon the operation despite SAPS backup and the police air wing having been called.
The officers were allegedly later confronted by Manyama, who showed them footage of their own patrol vehicle pursuing the suspect vehicle.
“They were insulted, they were screamed at, and they were instructed that they must bring back his cars and his firearms, as if he’s in control of the unit. This is the type of operational methods he used especially when it comes to people that he protected,” De Beer said.
She also described an incident in which TRU members allegedly found five bricks of cocaine and were ordered by Manyama to stand down.
The officers allegedly ignored the instruction, continued investigating and found another 12 bricks at a suspect’s home.
De Beer said Internal Affairs attempted to pursue disciplinary action against Manyama, but he retired before the process could be completed.
No criminal investigation was initially pursued because Internal Affairs lacked sufficient physical evidence, she said, although other potential evidence could support a criminal referral.
In November 2019, the City named Manyama its Officer of the Year, saying he had excelled in several units and worked beyond his required shifts.
The commission also heard detailed allegations about a separate R1.5 million cash robbery involving JMPD officers and a Hawks member.
De Beer said Inspector Emmaculate “Emma” Phakoane allegedly removed a damaged SPU vehicle from a fleet yard without authorisation and supplied it to a metro police officer identified as Mpatlele from the Public Order Policing unit.
An informer allegedly told Mpatlele that a businessman was travelling with R1.5 million in cash.
Mpatlele allegedly followed the businessman, stopped his vehicle and took the money after accusing him of money laundering.
De Beer said Mpatlele then drove away with the cash after instructing the businessman to travel to Johannesburg Central police station.
This incident has previously been confirmed by the JMPD.
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JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla said the incident occurred on 12 August 2023, when an officer stopped a motorist, found a bag containing R1.5 million and instructed him to follow the officer to Johannesburg Central SAPS.
Fihla said the officer then diverted from the route and disappeared with the cash. The officer was later convicted in the Booysens Magistrate’s Court and is serving a prison sentence.
De Beer told the commission that within days of the incident, Phakoane, Chief Superintendent Tintswalo Rikhotso and a Hawks captain she identified as Mabunda Matimu allegedly attempted to bribe the investigating officer with R550 000 to secure Mpatlele’s release.
The investigating officer refused the alleged bribe, although De Beer testified that the money ultimately ended up with Matimu.
Four months later, Phakoane allegedly targeted the same businessman again, this time accompanied by another JMPD officer.
De Beer said the businessman’s wife was allegedly assaulted with a patrol vehicle door after recognising and attempting to photograph the informer allegedly involved in the first robbery.
The second incident again involved an alleged attempt to obtain the businessman’s cash, with Phakoane allegedly contacting Hawks members for assistance.
“This matter illustrates, in internal affairs’ assessment, an example of two different law enforcement agencies becoming compromised in relation to the same underlying wrongdoing. The matter began with JMPD, and once reported to the Hawks, then the Hawks investigation itself becomes compromised,” De Beer said.
The commission heard that Mpatlele had since been convicted, while Phakoane and Rikhotso remained JMPD employees and had not yet faced disciplinary proceedings over the alleged robbery and bribery.
De Beer said Internal Affairs itself faced serious obstacles in investigating suspected criminality in the department.
She told the commission that the unit had about 38 personnel responsible for investigating misconduct across a JMPD workforce of between 3 000 and 4 000 employees.
Investigators worked in the same buildings as officers they were investigating, while implicated officers could also use internal grievance mechanisms against them.
De Beer said investigators had faced threats and intimidation.
In one case, an investigator’s personal information, residential address and banking details were allegedly obtained and disclosed by a SAPS member working with implicated JMPD officers.
Internal Affairs investigators and their families had also been threatened, while complainants were sometimes intimidated or disappeared before investigations could be completed, she said.
De Beer said neither the JMPD nor the City of Johannesburg provided adequate protection for investigators facing such threats.
She said that Internal Affairs should ultimately be relocated outside JMPD premises to protect investigators and complainants, improve security and allow people to report wrongdoing without the risk of encountering the officers they were accusing.
The unit’s ability to complete investigations was also hampered when implicated officers retired or resigned before disciplinary proceedings could be finalised, while investigations could be undermined when officials from other law-enforcement agencies were themselves allegedly implicated.
De Beer said these structural weaknesses created conditions in which criminal infiltration could continue.
The commission continues.
