“We will build a force that reflects the highest possible standards of service,” he stated.

“By filling vacancies, cementing partnerships, and leveraging technology, we will make Johannesburg a safer city for all.”

Jaca’s appointment is a major milestone for the city’s law enforcement. Born in Alexandra Township, his career has stretched for more than three decades, starting in 1988 at the Alexandra Traffic Department, and later joining the JMPD in 2001. He rose through the ranks and became renowned for his dedication to crime prevention, by-law enforcement, and community policing.

His leadership comes at a time when Johannesburg is facing increasing urban crime, road safety concerns, and a demand for more vigorous by-law enforcement.

Chief of Police Jaca has established key priorities that will strengthen law enforcement and public safety:

– Restoring professionalism and accountability within the JMPD.

– Strengthen the by-law management unit to enforce tougher regulations.

– Revitalising the Inner-City Rejuvenation Project to bring back order and safety.

– Enhancing crime intelligence to dismantle organized syndicates and combat violent crime.

– Improving road safety and traffic management to reduce fatalities.

– Increasing officer visibility and response times in hotspots of crime.

–  Introducing smart technology to modernize crime prevention and traffic systems.

Jaca acknowledges there is a challenging journey ahead but is optimistic.

“We are at a crossroads. My priority is to build a disciplined, proactive force that restores trust in the community and acts decisively against crime. We will build a force feared by criminals but trusted by the people. By filling vacancies, strengthening partnerships, and leveraging technology, we will ensure the highest standards of service,” he affirmed.

Under Jaca’s leadership, the JMPD will be modernizing its operations with investments in cutting-edge surveillance systems, data-driven policing, and electronic crime prevention systems. Partnerships with the local business community, community leaders, and other law enforcement agencies will also be at the core of improving crime-fighting strategies.

With a focus on efficiency, moral policing, and public participation, Jaca envisions a revived JMPD that not only enforces the law but also creates trust between citizens and officers.

As the new Chief of Police, Jaca’s leadership signals a new era for the JMPD one that prioritizes security, innovation, and public confidence. With a bold strategy and a commitment to excellence, he is set to steer Johannesburg towards a safer and more secure future.

Meanwhile, MMC for Public Safety, Cllr Mgcini Tshwaku, congratulated Jaca, praising his integrity, vision, and dedication.

“Chief Jaca’s extensive experience and unwavering commitment to justice make him the ideal leader to steer the JMPD towards excellence and ensure a safer Johannesburg for all,” said Tshwaku.

South African Police Services (SAPS) Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy praised Jaca’s inauguration as a positive step towards destroying crime in Johannesburg.

“Jaca is one of our heroes who is feared by criminals as he was always present on the streets to frustrate criminals. He always instilled fear in criminals and JMPD officers were respected during his time, this inauguration is a well-deserved one.”

He further appealed to Jaca to restore hope to the citizens of Johannesburg.

“Make women and children feel safer as the leader of this area. I take it that the fight to bring law and order to Johannesburg has commenced with your inauguration. You are appointed by your excellence and not by accident, we believe you are the right man for the job, so make us proud as citizens and SAPS, “he added.

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City Leadership Support City Speaker of the City of Johannesburg, Nobuhle Mthembu, sent her warmest congratulations to Jaca on his appointment, commenting on his service and dedication to public safety.

“Chief of Police Patrick Jaca, I take this chance to extend to you my warmest congratulations on your approval as Chief of Police of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) by the City of Johannesburg Council in full sitting,” stated Mthembu.

“With over three decades of experience in public safety, your dedication, sacrificial spirit, and passion to serve the people truly stand out. I am sure that these will bear a very positive effect on the city as well as its people.”

She also appreciated JMPD leadership, City of Johannesburg Mayoral Committee members, and all councillors of all political parties for trusting Jaca’s leadership.

“Having had the privilege of working with you previously in your role as Regional Operations Command in my area, Region F1, I am more than confident in your ability and capabilities. I look forward to working with you as we strive to create a safer, crime-free city for all,” she added.

An experienced Commander for a crucial job, Jaca formally accepted his appointment as Chief of Police on 1 February 2025 following his recommendation by the Johannesburg Metro Council. The appointment has been ratified unanimously, with MMC for Public Safety, Cllr Mgcini Tshwaku, thanking him for his integrity and vision.

“Chief Jaca’s profound experience and unwavering commitment to justice make him the ideal leader to lead JMPD to excellence and ensure a safer Johannesburg for everyone,” Tshwaku told media recently.

Jaca’s life, from Alexandra Township, is an example of determination and uncompromising commitment to service. He began his career in policing in 1988 at the Alexandra Traffic Department and later joined the JMPD in 2001. The decade witnessed him moving up the ranks, doing creditably in crime prevention, by-law enforcement, and community policing. His leadership is defined by discipline, forward policing, and strategic innovation.

Priorities for a safer Johannesburg under Jaca’s leadership, the JMPD will be implementing a series of strategic initiatives to improve public safety as well as enforce the law more effectively. His priorities are:

•Strengthening the By-law Management Unit to ensure stricter enforcement.

•Increasing the Inner-City Rejuvenation Project to restore safety and order.

• Increasing crime intelligence to assist in controlling violent crime and organized syndicates.

•Improving road safety and traffic management to reduce fatalities.

• Building public trust through ethics and accountability in policing.

• Increasing officer presence and response times in hotspots.

• Using technology to have smarter crime prevention and traffic systems.

Despite the challenges ahead, Jaca is optimistic about the future of policing in Johannesburg. “We are at a turning point. My focus is on creating a disciplined, proactive force that rebuilds trust with the community and acts decisively against crime,” he said recently in an interview.

A vision for the future Jaca envisions JMPD with professionalism, innovation, and integrity. His vision of recruiting job posts, forging partnerships, and applying technology is going to transform the department into an unconquerable force in crime fighting.

“We will create a force that is feared by criminals but respected by people. By setting the very highest standards of service, we will make Johannesburg safe for all,” he pledged.

As the city prepares to celebrate Jaca’s inauguration, expectations have been revived that his government will introduce the long-sought transformation in Johannesburg policing and lead the metropolis to its aspired safe and prosperous position.

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In a letter dated 24 April, Hill-Lewis called for Bheki Cele and Ronald Lamola to amend the South African Police Service (SAPS) Act definition of criminal investigation to specifically include municipal law enforcement; to extend more peace officer powers to municipal officers to combat serious offences, including gang, gun and drug crime; and to give metros a bigger say in setting local policing policy by including metro-specific policies in the National Policing Plan, as per Section 206 of the Constitution.

“We are investing to grow our policing resources, with firearm-related arrests up by 35% in 22/23, with law enforcement also doubling annual drug arrests from 4000 to 8000 over the same period,” Hill-Lewis said.

He said expanding the powers of municipal law enforcement to investigate crime is a simple way to immediately help SAPS fight crime and gain more convictions.

“We welcome the Police Portfolio Committee’s support for this idea. I have again written to the Ministers of Police and Justice this week to call for three simple reforms that will allow our well-trained officers to help better SAPS fight gang, gun and drug crime in Cape Town especially,” said Mayor Hill-Lewis.

He said it was “increasingly irrational” for national ministers to ignore the city.

“SAPS data shows a detection rate of just 12% in 2022/23. We can immediately boost convictions and put more criminals behind bars by giving our well-trained, capacitated officers the power of investigation to build winnable case dockets.”

“What we want does not require a Constitutional amendment. Our request is easy to do right now, and would make an immediate positive difference to crime in South Africa and especially in the city,” he said. 

In August 2021, the city submitted formal proposals to the ministers to expand the peace officer powers of its enforcement staff.

“This followed the initial expansion of peace officer powers by the Minister in 2018 due to the efforts of the City of Cape Town and the Institute for Municipal Public Safety of South Africa (IMPS-SA),” said Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.

Hill-Lewis said the under-resourcing of SAPS, and particularly the lack of basic equipment such as radios for Cape Town’s Anti-Gang Unit was concerning.

“Think what it means to respond to a live fire situation in the middle of gang warfare, and not even be able to speak on the radio to your colleagues in the next street or even in the next house. It is amazing to me that this is not a national scandal.” 

“We have 19 radios we can immediately avail to this critical SAPS unit, and the city will be in a position to make a further 500 radios available to other SAPS units in the near future. The city’s own Gang and Drug Task Team has been equipped with all the tech they need, as have all our other policing units, but without proper policing powers we are forever fighting an uphill battle here.”

Smith said the Safety and Security Directorate offered police the use of 500 hand radios in January this year.

“We became aware of the challenges they were experiencing with the radio network and we are keen to be of assistance to SAPS as they are the lead agency in the fight against crime and our valuable partners in crime prevention – their successes are our successes,” he said.

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