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Corruption and rot within the Gauteng traffic and metro police services is alarming. A staggering R1.5 million bribe was allegedly taken by a Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) official in a single day. This confirms that residents’ growing distrust of law enforcement is not merely a perception, but a documented reality under Premier Panyaza Lesufi's leadership.

In response to questions posed by the DA on corruption within the Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP), Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) and Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), Premier Lesufi, reveals that 456 complaints of fraud, corruption, extortion and theft were recorded between 2022 and 2026.

JMPD leads this shameful tally with 185 complaints, followed by TMPD with 180. These figures are deeply concerning, particularly because they represent only cases that were formally reported. The actual extent of corruption may therefore be considerably higher.

Even more alarming is the fact that only 175 officers, or 38.3% of those implicated, have been criminally charged. Worse, JMPD could not even tell the Premier how many of its own officer’s face criminal charges, which highlights a significant loss of control within the department.

See reply here.

The amounts involved are equally disturbing. Reported bribes range from a few hundred rand to an extraordinary R1.5 million allegedly taken by JMPD in a single day. This is not petty corruption. This is organised extortion, operating in broad daylight, on our roads, with impunity.

What makes this worse is that almost nothing appears to be in place to prevent it, as there is no visible, functioning system of deterrence, detection, or consequence. Corrupt officers currently face better odds of promotion than prosecution.

The DA calls on Premier Lesufi to confront corruption within Gauteng’s law enforcement agencies with decisive action, transparency, and consequences. Residents should not be forced to choose between complying with the law and being extorted by those entrusted to enforce it.

The DA will not accept corruption as the cost of doing business in Gauteng. Once in government, we will immediately introduce mandatory body cameras, annual lifestyle audits, and asset disclosures. We will establish an independent provincial anti-corruption unit; enforce time-bound referrals of corruption complaints to IPID or SAPS; and establish real-time accountability dashboards.

Issued by DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Community Safety Michael Sun MPL -