Questions are mounting in Gauteng after the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) reportedly identified R1.5 million as the largest amount of cash taken in a single day in alleged bribery incidents. The figure was revealed during a probe by the provincial government into bribery, corruption and extortion involving traffic officers and metro police in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni for the period 2022 to 2026.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson for community safety and member of the Gauteng Legislature, Michael Sun, raised formal queries with Premier Panyaza Lesufi and the provincial administration after receiving responses from the metro police departments. Sun said the responses did not provide an overall total for amounts recovered or solicited but did include the JMPD's reference to R1.5 million as the highest single‑day figure.
DA calls it "organised extortion"
"This is no longer traffic police asking for cooldrink money on the side of the road. This is organised extortion,"
Sun rejected suggestions that the provincial responses might have confused legitimate traffic fines with illicit payments, saying the questions were straightforward and the answers clearly related to corruption and bribery. He said the DA will continue to press for clarity, particularly around the circumstances that produced the R1.5 million figure.
The provincial enquiry asked the three metro police agencies to state amounts allegedly solicited, recovered or recorded in traffic‑related bribery cases over the four‑year period. According to the summary of responses, none of the departments supplied a definitive total for sums recovered or solicited.
Numbers disclosed so far
Information released to the DA and reported publicly so far includes:
- R1.5 million — highest amount recorded as taken in a single day (JMPD)
- 2022–2026 — period covered by the questions submitted to metro police departments
- 456 — corruption complaints recorded by the Gauteng government (as included in the material provided)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Largest single‑day amount recorded | R1.5 million (JMPD) |
| Period under review | 2022–2026 |
| Corruption complaints recorded | 456 |
What the DA wants to know
Sun has demanded further detail from the provincial executive and the metro police departments to establish whether the amounts relate to uncovered sting operations, prosecutions, internal audits, or simply reported allegations. Key questions being pressed include:
- How was the R1.5 million amount identified and documented?
- Was the money recovered as part of a police operation, or recorded through other mechanisms?
- What steps have been taken to investigate and prosecute the officers implicated?
The DA says it will pursue the matter in the Gauteng Legislature until a clear accounting is provided and appropriate disciplinary or criminal action is disclosed where warranted.
Local impact and oversight implications
The allegation, if substantiated, points to systematic wrongdoing that would undermine public trust in traffic enforcement and place ordinary road users at risk. Small‑scale corruption — officers soliciting token payments at roadblocks — has long been a complaint from motorists. But the DA's characterisation of the conduct as "organised extortion" suggests incidents involving larger, co‑ordinated activity.
Oversight questions now focus on internal controls within metro police departments, the effectiveness of provincial monitoring, and co‑operation with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and specialised anti‑corruption units. The DA is also seeking to clarify whether existing disciplinary processes and criminal referrals have been applied.
Next steps
Premier Lesufi and his office have been asked to respond to the DA's follow‑up queries. The JMPD, Tshwane Metro Police and Ekurhuleni Metro Police were approached for comment in the initial exchange handled by the provincial administration; the JMPD's response included the single‑day figure but did not offer a cumulative total for the period under review.
For residents and motorists, the unfolding inquiry is a reminder to report instances of suspected extortion or bribery at traffic stops to SAPS and to make complaints to the relevant metro police oversight bodies. The DA has said it will continue to pursue the matter through questions in the legislature and public oversight until a full accounting is produced.
Gauteng commuters and road users will be watching to see whether the province provides a detailed breakdown of the figures and any evidence of criminal investigations or disciplinary action against implicated officers.
