A Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer allegedly took more than R1.5 million in cash bribes in a single day, according to information revealed in Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s written parliamentary reply to questions about corruption within the province’s traffic and metro police services.
The revelation has sparked fresh concerns over corruption in Gauteng law enforcement, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) claiming hundreds of complaints involving fraud, corruption, extortion and theft have been recorded across the province’s traffic and metropolitan police departments since 2022.
Lesufi’s reply was in response to questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature by DA MPL Sergio dos Santos on bribery involving officials from the Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP), JMPD, Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) and Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD).
JMPD officer allegedly took over R1.5 million in one day
According to JMPD’s response contained in Annexure A of Lesufi’s reply, 185 JMPD members were investigated for fraud and corruption by the department’s Internal Affairs Unit between January 2022 and April 2026.
The department said it did not know the total amount allegedly solicited in corruption cases because some alleged extortion and corruption attempts were not completed.
However, it disclosed an extraordinary amount allegedly taken in one day.
“There is no known total amount known as some of the extortion and corruption attempts were not completed, however the highest amount that was taken on one day was R1.5 million Rand in cash,” JMPD said in its response.
The reply does not provide further details about the R1.5 million incident, including when it allegedly occurred, how the money was obtained, who allegedly paid it, or the outcome of any criminal investigation linked to the case.
JMPD further revealed that 47 members were either suspended or placed in another capacity following bribery investigations, while 17 members were dismissed.
“A total of 47 Members were placed on suspension or were utilised in another capacity. A total of 17 Members were Dismissed and it is not clear yet how many were criminally charged,” the department said.
Hundreds of corruption complaints recorded
The DA said Lesufi’s response showed that 456 complaints of fraud, corruption, extortion and theft were recorded across the four law-enforcement agencies between 2022 and 2026.
JMPD accounted for 185 cases, while TMPD recorded 180 bribery and corruption cases between 2022 and May 2026. EMPD reported 81 complaints, while the Gauteng Traffic Police recorded 10.
TMPD’s submission further revealed that 314 members had been identified and investigated for allegedly soliciting or accepting bribes since 2022, although 52 cases found that the accused could not be determined.
The Tshwane department said 28 members had been suspended for bribery and corruption, while 17 were dismissed and 148 criminally charged.
“Only nine officials were implicated in the extortion of R700, with one officer allegedly soliciting R500,” the Gauteng Traffic Police said in its portion of the provincial response. The GTP also said eight officials had been criminally charged and two allegations were found to be unfounded.
EMPD, meanwhile, reported that R54,250 had allegedly been solicited in cases under investigation, of which R5,200 was recovered. It said 11 officials had been suspended, one dismissed and 19 criminally charged.
DA says figures expose ‘corruption and rot’
DA Gauteng spokesperson for Community Safety Michael Sun said the figures were alarming and argued that they reinforced public distrust of law-enforcement officers.
“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,” Sun said.
“This confirms that residents’ growing distrust of law enforcement is not merely a perception, but a documented reality under Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s leadership.”
Sun said the number of formally reported cases could represent only part of the problem.
“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,” he said.
He also raised concerns over the number of officials who had ultimately faced criminal charges.
“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,” Sun said.
‘This is not petty corruption’
Sun described the scale of the alleged bribery as evidence of a deeper problem within Gauteng law enforcement.
“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,” he said.
“This is not petty corruption. This is organised extortion, operating in broad daylight, on our roads, with impunity.”
Sun claimed there was insufficient deterrence and accountability for officers involved in corruption.
“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,” he said.
The official responses, however, detail several anti-corruption measures already being used or planned. JMPD said its Internal Affairs Unit conducts anti-fraud and corruption awareness campaigns and witness-protection workshops, while TMPD said it conducts unannounced integrity checks and monthly undercover bribery and corruption operations.
Lesufi’s response also said the Gauteng Traffic Police had allocated 1,000 body cameras and fitted 700 vehicles with dashboard cameras.
The DA called on Lesufi to take stronger action against corruption and said it wanted mandatory body cameras, annual lifestyle audits and asset disclosures, an independent provincial anti-corruption unit and time-bound referrals of corruption complaints to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) or SAPS.
“Residents should not be forced to choose between complying with the law and being extorted by those entrusted to enforce it,” Sun said.
“The DA will not accept corruption as the cost of doing business in Gauteng.”
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