The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) yesterday scored a major victory against deadly crime after four suspects were apprehended promptly in relation to the gruesome murder of one of its officers, Officer Nkululeko Mbambo. The breakthrough follows only days since the policeman was gunned down in Leondale, Ekurhuleni, in what police describe as a targeted act of senseless violence.
The 46-year-old officer was ambushed on duty on Monday, 14 April 2025. His murder sparked an enormous manhunt that reached a peak in a high-stakes, multi-agency operation which unfolded across Johannesburg on Wednesday, 16 April, and Thursday, 17 April 2025.
Following intelligence and CCTV evidence, JMPD Tactical Response and K9 Unit members collaborated with the SAPS Anti-Kidnapping Task Team, DPCI Germiston, Gauteng and Sedibeng Crime Intelligence, EMPD CLU, Gauteng Traffic Police SLEU, and private security personnel. The collaborative effort led to numerous arrests and the seizure of high-powered weapons and hijacked vehicles.
A Coordinated crackdown
The first part of the operation was done at Leondale, where officers arrested two suspects and recovered an AK47, an R5 rifle, and two handguns, one miraculously found stuffed in a refrigerator. Officers also took possession of a Toyota Rumion, used to kill one of the officers.
During a second search in the same suburb, the third suspect was apprehended identified on CCTV as the alleged gunman. He was found to be in possession of a pistol believed to be the weapon used for the murder, and a hijacked Toyota Urban Cruiser that was attributed to a Bramley SAPS case.
The investigation took a dramatic turn when the suspect revealed the whereabouts of Officer Mbambo’s hijacked service weapon. Acting with speed, the team extended its operation to the Lawley Station Informal Settlement on Thursday morning. There, they arrested a fourth suspect – reported to be the brother of the alleged shooter – and took away Officer Mbambo’s service pistol. Although the serial number had been removed, preliminary tests confirmed the identity of the firearm. A hijacked VW Polo Vivo, which was connected to a Westonaria case, was also found on the property.
“Justice for one of our own”
In his remarks on the success of the operation, JMPD Chief of Police Commissioner Patrick Jaca praised the diligent effort of all participating units.
“This was a mission of great personal importance. Officer Mbambo was one of our own – he wore the badge with honour,” Jaca said.
“The professionalism and accuracy employed in bringing his killers to book sends a clear message: we don’t back down when our officers, or our city, are targeted.”
Jaca put special emphasis on the department’s on-going commitment to dismantling violent criminal groups, noting that the operation is part of a broader strategy to bring together intelligence-led policing and multi-agency partnership.
A Legacy of effective crime fighting
This is not the first time that JMPD has delivered body blows to crime gangs. In recent years, the department has played a pivotal role in dispersing car hijacking syndicates, reclaiming hijacked vehicles, and shutting down illegal firearms supply chains.
In 2023, the JMPD made headlines after arresting a syndicate operating a hijacked-vehicle chop shop in Crown Mines and seizing over 40 vehicle shells and parts. In 2024, the Tactical Response Unit helped in the release of kidnapped victims in joint raids in Lenasia and Hillbrow. Strategic deployment of drone surveillance, public tips, and forensic mapping by the department has seen it push back against urban crime in hot spots like Turffontein, Hillbrow, and Diepsloot.
INFOSTRIP | JMPD CRIME-FIGHTING IMPACT AT A GLANCE (2023–2025)
- 2,300+ illegal firearms recovered
- 1,800+ hijacked/stolen vehicles recovered
- 97 successful sting operations with SAPS
- 450+ suspects arrested in drug-related raids
- 30 kidnapped victims rescued
- Rollout of AI-integrated surveillance tech in 5 hotspot zones
- Deployment of K9 units in 12 precincts
Source: JMPD Annual Operational Review & SAPS Joint Taskforce Reports
JMPD Spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla welcomed the recent arrests as proof of the growing success of integrated policing in Gauteng.
“We mourn the death of Officer Mbambo, but we are determined as well that those who are guilty are held before the entire power of the law,” Fihla stated.
“This isn’t one case – it’s about regaining the confidence of the public and telling criminals we’re always looking and we’ll act.”
The road ahead
The four suspects are currently in detention and will be appearing in court soon. The investigation continues, with forensic experts currently looking into the guns and cars recovered for links to other crime investigations.
With the assassination of Officer Mbambo, the JMPD rededicated its resolve to protect its officers as well as those people they took an oath to serve. With the city mourning the loss of a dedicated civil servant, the successful operation lends a glimmer of justice – and a message regarding what can be done when police forces unite in one agenda.
