The City of Tshwane is investigating allegations of nepotism and corruption in the recruitment of 200 metro police officers.
Image: TMPD
The City of Tshwane has launched a forensic probe into allegations that the recent recruitment process for 200 metro police officers at the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) was marred by nepotism and corruption.
Hannes Coetzee, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Safety, confirmed this amid wide-ranging complaints from disgruntled applicants who have since threatened to protest outside Tshwane House on Thursday.
Despite the city’s investigation already being under way, the applicants said they would demand an independent, full investigation into the recruitment process and greater transparency in the selection criteria.
Speaking on behalf of the applicants, Karabo Molefe said the group first sent a memorandum to the city on February 19 this year and another one on April 4, also furnishing the city with evidence of corruption within the TMPD.
“We just need answers because we followed the correct procedures to raise our grievances,” he said.
Molefe said protesters look forward to getting answers from Coetzee on Thursday, adding that he is aware of their issues.
A recent memorandum to the city states that some candidates who allegedly failed mandatory physical fitness assessments — including the 2.4km run, 1.8m wall jump, and 40kg punching bag carry — were permitted to advance in the recruitment process.
The memorandum also alleges that the English proficiency test paper was leaked before the assessment and that applicants were never given feedback on their results.
The march conveners also allege that the recruitment process breached the Employment Equity Act due to favouritism, discrimination, and irregularities.
Coetzee said he was aware of the applicants' issues, adding that a Section 79 Committee on Community Safety had previously requested a report on the matter, and its members even conducted an oversight visit on site.
He said the report has since been compiled and tabled in council, and he recommended handing it over to the city's Group Audit and Risk unit for a forensic investigation.
“As we speak now, they are busy with the forensic investigation, and we say that if any discrepancy is found, we must deal with that. So, we are just waiting for the outcome of the report.”
He pleaded with the complainants to be patient while awaiting the finalisation of the forensic investigation.
He said the 2025 recruitment drive aimed to hire 200 officers and received 23,000 applications.
He stated that any reasonable doubts regarding the fairness of the recruitment process, if supported by evidence, would be submitted to the investigators. The report is due to be presented to the council at the end of June.
He warned that recruiters will face consequences if any wrongdoing is found on their part.
Last week, during the tabling of the city’s 2026/27 budget, MMC for Finance Eugene Modise said the city is rolling out advanced infrastructure security enhancements within the TMPD’s Asset Protection and Security Services (APSS) division.
He announced that part of the APSS budget will support Expanded Metro Police Deployment, which includes recruiting 200 additional TMPD officers earmarked to protect critical infrastructure networks.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za