Gauteng's new commissioner wants to hit the ground running

• Gauteng has a new South African Police Service’s top cop in the form of General Tommy Mthombeni
• Mthombeni was appointed after Elias Mawela retired in January this year, and he outlined some of the steps he will take to curb crime
• South Africans called on him to fight crime seriously, and others were not happy about his appointment

Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’s current affairs journalist, offered coverage of current affairs like loadshedding, fuel prices and environmental affairs during his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News. Do you have a hard news story you would like to share? Email [email protected] with CA in the subject line.

Tommy Mthombeni, seen here with Fannie Masemola and Faith Mazibuko, is Gauteng’s new top cop. Images: South African Police Service Source: Facebook

GAUTENG– The South African Police Service in Gauteng officially appointed General Tommy Mthombeni as the top cop in the province. He hit the ground running and shared how he would take over the province’s force.

SAPS appoints new Gauteng commissioner

According to eNCA, Fannie Masemola, the national commissioner, announced the appointment after Elias Mawela retired a month ago. Mthombeni has been acting as a provincial and is now a Lieutenant General. Mthombeni pointed out that he will focus on serious, violent, organised crimes and uprooting corruption in the SAPS. He will also be focusing on drug abuse and gender-based violence.

South Africans not pleased with the appointment

Netizens on Facebook reacted negatively to the appointment.

Freeze Sphamandla:

“But he was supposed to retire.”

Ricky Fakier:

“Another fool.”

Eugene Rosant:

“A token clown.”

Banqobile Tlaleng Mofokeng added:

“Hurry up and come to Ratanda tomorrow morning because the situation is bad.”

167 EMPD officers have criminal records

In a similar article, Briefly News reported that 167 Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department officials were found to have criminal records.

A report from 2022 revealed that these officers allegedly committed a range of criminal offences, including murder, theft and assault, among others.

South Africans wanted to know why these officers were still employed in law enforcement.