JMPD recruitment fatalities are unacceptable
Statement by Yongama Zigebe, Councillor in the City of Johannesburg for the United Democratic Movement and Chairperson of the S79 Committee on Gender, Youth and People with Disabilities
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the City of Johannesburg notes with deep shock and sadness the tragic deaths of two young South Africans, Mr Marvellous Michael Nyambi and Mr Zwelethu Tekete, during the recent Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) recruitment programme at Ruimsig Stadium.
These deaths are not only heartbreaking for their families and communities, but they also raise serious concerns about the safety, fairness, and integrity of the City’s recruitment processes. The youth of our country continue to struggle with unemployment and limited opportunities. For many, the chance to serve as JMPD officers represented hope and dignity. To have such hope end in tragedy is devastating and unacceptable.
The UDM in the City of Johannesburg is further disturbed by allegations that hundreds of young applicants were turned away on the basis of proof of residence letters allegedly sourced only through councillors. If true, this points to unacceptable gatekeeping practices that undermine fairness, transparency, and equitable access to opportunities.
As a Councillor in the City of Johannesburg and Chairperson of the Section 79 Oversight Committee on Gender, Youth, and People with Disabilities (GEYODI), I have formally written to the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Safety, Cllr M Tshwaku, requesting a comprehensive report on the circumstances surrounding these deaths, the absence of medical and emergency readiness on site, the suitability of instructors, risk management protocols, and the measures being taken to prevent such tragedies from recurring. The Speaker of Council, Cllr M Arnolds, has also been copied in this correspondence.
The UDM in the City of Johannesburg calls for:
1. Immediate transparency from the City of Johannesburg on the events that led to these fatalities.
2. Accountability for the failures in planning, oversight, and risk management.
3. Fair and inclusive recruitment practices that do not discriminate or impose unfair barriers on applicants.
4. Support and compensation for the families of the deceased candidates.
The lives of young people cannot be treated carelessly in the pursuit of building law enforcement capacity. These incidents must serve as a turning point for how the City approaches youth recruitment, safety standards, and public trust.
The UDM in the City of Johannesburg will continue to raise these matters until satisfactory answers and corrective measures are put in place.
