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Stuff from Johannesburg

JMPD Expresses Profound Condolences Over Ekurhuleni Murders

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) expresses its deep sorrow, outrage, and heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and affected communities grieving the horrific discovery of women’s bodies in Kempton Park and surrounding Ekurhuleni areas.

While these crimes fall directly under the jurisdiction of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and our sister municipality in Ekurhuleni, Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) is a national crisis that transcends municipal boundaries. The JMPD firmly asserts that no woman should ever live in fear, whether exercising, commuting, working, or going about her daily life anywhere in Gauteng.

The JMPD stands in full solidarity with SAPS and the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD). We have placed operational units within the City of Johannesburg, particularly along border areas, transit hubs, open fields, and isolated public spaces, on heightened alert to support broader regional intelligence and safety efforts.

The safety of women, children, and vulnerable groups in Johannesburg remains a core operational priority.

The JMPD reinforces its commitment through:

Increased foot and mobile patrols in open spaces, recreational routes, parks, and high-risk pedestrian corridors across all seven regions of Johannesburg.

Active collaboration with City of Johannesburg social development structures and community safety forums to ensure swift response times to incidents of violence or intimidation against women.

Supporting SAPS and neighbouring municipal police services with data, camera surveillance monitoring, and joint law enforcement drives where required.

The JMPD urges all residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, unfamiliar vehicles loitering near open fields, or individuals targeting pedestrians immediately.

Emergency Contacts:

  • City of Johannesburg Emergency Call Centre: 011 375 5911
  • SAPS Crime Stop: 08600 10111
  • GBV Command Centre: 0800 428 428
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The Socio-Political Crucible of Soweto

You cannot understand Johannesburg without understanding Soweto (an acronym for South Western Townships). Originally established as a “labor dormitory” to house black miners away from the white city center, Soweto grew into a sprawling metropolis of over 1.3 million people and became the epicenter of the struggle against Apartheid.

The township is home to Vilakazi Street, the only street in the world to have been home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners: Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It was also the site of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, when thousands of students protested against the forced use of Afrikaans in schools. The police response and the subsequent death of 13-year-old Hector Pieterson catalyzed international condemnation of the Apartheid regime. Today, Soweto is a vibrant cultural hub, blending historical landmarks like the Orlando Towers (now used for bungee jumping) with a booming tourism industry and a sophisticated middle class. It represents the city’s resilience—a place born from segregation that transformed into a symbol of liberation and modern South African identity.