Gauteng police have dismissed viral social media claims accusing Johannesburg officers of corruption, urging the public to verify information before sharing it online. Picture Credit: Shutterstock
By Aisha Zardad
Johannesburg – Management within the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Johannesburg has cautioned the public against circulating what it describes as misleading social media content accusing officers of corruption.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Brenda Muridili, said a series of outdated photographs are being reshared online and falsely presented as evidence of misconduct by members stationed at Hillbrow and Johannesburg police stations.
“The Johannesburg District Management is disturbed by a series of recycled photographs being misused to falsely portray Hillbrow and Johannesburg police station members as corrupt. These outdated images are being taken out of context to tarnish the reputation of police officers,” Muridili said.
One image currently circulating shows a police officer holding a firearm while several men lie on the ground. The accompanying caption alleges that an officer known as “Jovice” targets migrants in areas including Hillbrow and Braamfontein, arrests them, and demands bribes ranging from R300 to R5,000 depending on the alleged offence.
Police have rejected the claims as false.
“A recent photo has been circulating with a caption falsely claiming police were targeting immigrants for bribes. In reality, the photo was taken during a joint operation with various law enforcement agencies while SAPS was enforcing Covid-19 regulations during the pandemic, as it was outlined in the Disaster Management Act,” Muridili said.
Gauteng police management has urged social media users to verify information before sharing content that could mislead the public or damage reputations.
Authorities have encouraged members of the public to report any legitimate allegations of corruption or extortion involving SAPS officials through official channels:
- Anti-Corruption Hotline: 0800 701 701
- SAPS National Complaints Service Centre: 0800 333 177
- Gauteng Service Complaints Standby: 082 442 2000
Police reiterated that misconduct allegations should be formally reported rather than amplified through unverified online posts.
