UDM outraged by killing of JMPD officers – cities cannot be war zones for law enforcement
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) City of Johannesburg is outraged and deeply disturbed by the rising number of incidents in which Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers are being murdered in cold blood while performing their duties.
In the 2024/2025 financial year alone, multiple JMPD officers have been gunned down in incidents that bear the hallmarks of militarised criminal networks and a complete disregard for law and order. Most recently, the brutal killing of Officer Matome Mokoena in Vlakfontein, where he was ambushed, pursued, and executed while responding to a robbery, has sent shockwaves through the city.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Officer Matome Mokoena. May his sacrifice in service to the people of Johannesburg never be forgotten. Our sympathies also go to the families of Officers Judith Makwela, Nkululeko Mbambo, and Khensani Mabaso, whose lives were also tragically taken in similar ambush-style killings over the past months.
This is not an isolated tragedy. These heinous acts reveal a grim reality: our law enforcement officers are being hunted, while criminals operate with impunity. It is a painful reminder that the men and women who protect our streets are increasingly becoming targets of calculated violence, with very little support or protection from the state they serve.
The UDM in Johannesburg demands urgent and decisive action from the Executive Mayor, the MMC for Public Safety, and the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety. What is being done to ensure the safety of our officers? Where are the visible patrols, intelligence-led policing strategies, and early-warning systems?
This is not only a security failure—it is a moral crisis. The growing brazenness of criminals undermines public confidence in law enforcement and weakens the foundations of local governance.
The UDM in Johannesburg calls for:
1. A full-scale independent investigation into each officer’s death, with timelines and transparent reporting;
2. Immediate deployment of tactical units to protect police precincts and high-risk zones;
3. Psychosocial support and risk allowances for JMPD officers facing escalating threats;
4. Public Safety hearings in Council to evaluate and overhaul the City’s law enforcement strategy.
We honour the courage and ultimate sacrifice of these officers. But honour must not be symbolic—it must be reflected in concrete measures to protect those who serve and to bring their killers to justice.
