Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD)
Overview
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Department has a ‘broken window approach’ of dealing with the small issues of crime alongside the bigger ones. In terms of this philosophy, the prevention of smaller crimes is believed to have a knock-on effect, helping to cut more serious crime.
JMPD manages and coordinates the City of Johannesburg Crime Prevention Strategy which includes,
- Preventative policing and patrolling of high risk areas
- Establishing an information Management system to share crime data with South
- Community policing forum partnership
- Family and community programmes for high risk areas
- African Police Service
- CCTV in Public places
- Anti-fraud technology
- Signs warning pedestrians and tourists of risks areas
- Effective street lighting in high risk areas
- In addition to crime prevention, by-law enforcement is a core competence of local government. The City by-laws have been amended and the JMPD will promote awareness and ensure enforcement of these by-laws.
The Joburg City Safety Strategy aims to define a common approach to dealing with crime, violence and safety and security in Johannesburg. It will be the key programme on safety and security for the City and will be the basis for the programmes of the JMPD and other agencies.
VISION
“To ensure a universal sense of safety and security”
MISSION
“As JMPD, through the formation of partnerships with the broader community, all policing agencies and other forums, create a safe and secure environment for the optimum functioning of all stakeholders within the Johannesburg Metro region by the provision of professional road traffic policing, by-law enforcement and crime prevention services.”
CORE VALUES
All employees in the department must identify and adhere to the following core values:
(a) Teamwork
(b) Professionalism, honesty and integrity
(c) Accountability and transparency
(d) Fairness
(e) Service excellence delivered with pride
MANDATE
The JMPD derives its mandate from the South African Police Service Act, 68 of 1995;
(a) traffic policing, subject to any legislation relating to road
traffic;
(b) the policing of municipal by-laws and regulations which are
the responsibility of the municipality,
(c) the prevention of crime
In addition, the department also provides security services
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
A resolution was taken in 1999 by the City of Johannesburg to establish a Metropolitan Police Department and to outsource Metropolitan Security Services.
Public Safety was tasked to establish a Task Team for the establishment of the Metropolitan Department. The key departments were:
• Metropolitan Traffic Management Services
• Metropolitan Security Services
The rationale behind the establishment of JMPD within the City were:
• High levels of crime and grime
• Lack of confidence in policing
A submission was made to the Provincial Legislature’s MEC for Community Safety in 2000 for the approval of the establishment of the Metropolitan Traffic Department and the application was successful.
Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) was established and launched on the 31st March 2001. The Chief of Police Mzwandile Chris Ngcobo was appointed on the date of the launch.
JMPD was officially established through the integration of the various traffic departments and security services within the Greater Johannesburg Municipal Council, consisting of Soweto, Roodepoort, Midrand, Randburg, Sandton and Johannesburg. To implement the City’s resolution, Metropolitan Police bridging course was done under the South African Police Services (SAPS) auspices.
The department is accountable to the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, as per the South African Police Service Act, 1995 (Act 68 of 1995).
The SAPS Amendment Act No. 83 of 1998, accorded municipal police organisation three core functions namely:
• Traffic Policing
• Crime-Prevention
• By-Laws Enforcement
JMPD was the first Metropolitan Police Department in the new political dispensation in the country.
RESPONSIBILITY AND STRUCTURE
The JMPD’s mandate is derived from the South African Police Service Amendment Act 83 of 1998. The department’s functions include traffic policing, policing of municipality by laws and regulations and prevention of crime.
The departments is responsible for:
• Co-ordination and development of a prevention strategy for the city
• Development of delivery mechanisms and systems for crime prevention and by-law enforcement
• Guidance, operation and maintenance of an efficient and effective metropolitan police service.
It has seven regional officers, precincts in each region and sectors within those precincts.
The department believes that visible policing is an important prevention strategy. It has about 2300 operational staff members, both uniformed and civilians, drawn from the traffic departments, crime prevention and by-law enforcement agencies of the former local councils within the Johannesburg area, who carry out patrol duties.
PARTNERSHIPS
The department works with a host of other bodies, including the Department of Home Affairs, which handles issues regarding illegal immigrants, the City’s Health Department which deals with issues of illegal dumping and the South African Police Service.
Departments and Projects
Accident Department
FUNCTIONS
- Attend to serious (P1) and fatal (P4) accidents in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan jurisdiction
- Conduct investigations on the scene, take photos on the scene
- Wait for the Gauteng Health Departments Forensic Pathology Services Mortuary
- Informing families of the deceased or injured persons
- Registering of case dockets (culpable homicide or reckless /negligent driving
- Revisiting accident scenes
- Attend magisterial courts and High courts to give evidence in regard to the accidents
- Reconstruction of accidents requested by the state Justice Department
- To receive and capture accident reports from different regions
- Collection of accident reports from different police stations
- To supply the public and stakeholders with copies of accident reports
- To supply telephonic support to the public and stakeholders
- Generate and Allocation of case numbers
Recovery Department
The core function of Recovery Unit is to ensure that JMPD removes vehicles that cause obstructions on the street or on a public rod
FUNCTIONS OF OFFICERS
- Remove illegally parked/ abandoned vehicles
- Remove broken-down vehicles
- Remove illegally displayed advertising trailers
- Remove unwanted food containers on sidewalks
- Ensure free flow of traffic always.
- Issuing of citations
- Safekeeping of Motor vehicles that were involved in fatal crashes
- Crushing vehicles that are not cleared after a period of three months
- Administer Tri-Band enforcements
Transport Department
To monitor the safety of taxi operators and commuters at the taxi ranks, Reya-Vaya Buses and Taxi violence.
TRANSPORTATION FUNCTIONS
- Public transport documentation (driver & vehicle)
- Inter & Intra-provincial public transport
- Cross-border transport inspections
- Attend to complaints (i.e. illegal taxi ranks)
- Impounding of non-compliant vehicles
REA VAYA UNIT
- Rea Vaya is a bus rapid transit system operating in Johannesburg, South Africa. Rea Vaya route link the Johannesburg CBD and Braamfontein with Soweto.
- It is currently expanding towards Sandton, Rosebank and Midrand as well. Rea Vaya unit officers' mandate is to ensure the safety of bus operators and commuters daily and to ensure a free flow of traffic at the designated bus lanes.
FUNCTIONS
- Administer Tri-Band functions: Traffic Management, Crime Prevention and By-Laws Management.
- Attending to all complaints on the Rea-Vaya bus route
- Morning and afternoon peak points at hot spots along the Rea-Vaya bus route
- Afternoon bus escort of C4 and C5 bus routes from Auckland Park to Ontdekkers road
Communications Department
Employees (dispatchers and call takers) in the radio room deal with life-threatening and non-life-threatening emergency calls.
FUNCTIONS
- Call taking- dealing with life-threatening and non-life-threatening emergency calls
- Receiving complaints and rapid dispatching of manpower/ officers to attend to complaints
- Register or log complaints on the system
- Gather feedback based on complaints attended by officers on dispatch
- Liaise with various law enforcement agencies and other emergency departments (Emergency Management Services) regarding complaints received
- Deal with queries and inquiries from members of the public regarding JMPD
- Providing Incidents and accident information when required by the Accident office
K9-Narcotics Unit
K-9 has three different types of capabilities:
Patrol dogs: these dogs are trained and certified by SAPS to serve as an aid in the prevention, combating and investigation of crime.
Narcotic dogs: these dogs are trained for visible policing to ensure service delivery, with the aid of the narcotic detection dogs this is done in harmony with instructions, policies and regulatory framework, they can detect substances like: cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamines & methamphetamines.
Explosive dogs: these dogs assist in the detection of explosive devices on a crime scene, they can detect substances like power gel, PE4 (plastic explosive), MS 200, Firearms and Cartridges, and many other Explosive devices.
Currently K9 Unit is working on a four shifts system which comprises of the four days in and four-days off Shift system.
The unit also conducts School searches, Hostels and places of entertainment within the City of Johannesburg.
Currently, JMPD K9 Unit is a dedicated team and has had numerous arrests and successes over the past months. It covers an estimate of 1,634 square kilometres within the City that stretches from Midrand in the North to Orange farm in the South
There are different types of operations with regard to drugs.
Roadblocks: Section 13(8) is required either by the SAPS Commander in areas where it is conducted or by the JMPD Chief of Police.
Area search: Section 13(7) is required by the Provincial Commissioner SAPS to cordon off an area or building to be searched.
When some complaints are received where dealers are dealing from corners or abandoned houses, no search warrants are required.
Where there is clear evidence of dealing in front of a house or building and the runner or dealer is arrested, officers can search such houses or buildings.
By-Law Enforcement operations
Illegal Land Invasion
Illegal Street Trading
Illegal connections (Water and Electricity)
Crowd Control Unit
It is a specialized unit that comprises of officers that deals with Crowd Management and administer Tri-Band functions: Traffic Management, Crime Prevention and By-Laws Management.
Officers are highly trained by South African Police Services (SAPS) Public Order Policing Division.
FUNCTIONS OF CROWD CONTROL OFFICERS
- Crowd Management
- Unrests
- Protests Strikes
- Planned or Unplanned gatherings and Marches
- Sports and cultural events
- The unit assists all the MOE’s during their operations e.g. Illegal
- Land invasion, Water and Electricity cut offs operations
- Protection of key points within City of Johannesburg (CoJ) during unrest situations that may affect any property that belongs to the CoJ
- Protection of the Mayor and the Mayoral committee members during an Imbizo and public addresses
VIP Protection Services
This unit was formed with the primary function to protect the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg.
FUNCTIONS
Rendering mobile and static protection services to the Executive Mayor
Rendering protection services to the Speaker of the Council
Protection of the Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip and Member of the Mayoral Committee when representing the Executive Mayor on official duties
Protection of foreign and local dignitaries that are of importance to the City of Johannesburg
Liaising with other security agencies in the country on major events hosted by the City of Johannesburg
Liaising with National and Provincial governments on major events
Liaising with all Council departments
Security planning on all mayoral events and roadshows
Managing the Mayoral fleet and other resources.
Drill Squad
Attend and drill at COJ ceremonial events and functions
Community Outreach
- School Safety Programmes
- Scholar Transport
- Minibus and Taxi Safety
- Road Safety Campaigns
- Conduct debates with various stakeholders regarding social issues affecting our communities and schools
SCHOOL SAFETY PROGRAMMES
School safety programmes in conjunction with Gauteng Department of Education, Road Traffic Management Corporations (RTMC), Gauteng Department of Community Safety, South African Police and various stakeholders.
- Attend meetings- with Department of Education representative, SGB, principal, educators and parents to raise issues arising in the schools
- Do presentations on Road Safety Campaigns
- Training and Monitoring of Scholar Patrols
- Drug abuse, Child abuse and Human trafficking presentations
- School searches-in order to maintain order and discipline in the school and to protect the safety and welfare of students, School personnel and educators et cetera.
SCHOLAR TRANSPORT
Every day, millions of learners hoping to better themselves through education wake up early to get to school. Scholar transport is a necessary and integral part of the right to basic education. The National Department of Transport has legislation and regulations in place to help ensure that children get to school safely, in suitable vehicles that are licenced, roadworthy and driven by drivers with professional driving permits.
Any person that transports children to and from school for money is providing a scholar transport service. These services may be operated in terms of a contract with a school or through a private arrangement with parents, guardians or between parents/guardians.
Requirements for scholar transport services
Anyone who transports children to school and back and is paid to do so on a regular basis needs to comply with the scholar transport regulations.
An operating licence is not necessary when scholars are transported on an occasional basis, such as for outings and sports events. However, in such cases, a letter from the school confirming that the children are learners at the school and that the driver has permission to transport the children’s needs to be carried in the vehicle. Vehicles are required to have a certificate of vehicle fitness. They need to be suitable for safely transporting children, and have the necessary seat belts, if transporting children under the age of three they must have car seats. No bakkies, light delivery vehicles, trucks and trailers may be used to transport children.
Requirements for drivers
All drivers of scholar transport vehicles need to have the following:
- A valid driver’s licence
- A valid Professional Driving Permit (PRDP)
- A qualification in First Aid
- A qualification for advanced or defensive driving
- It is advised and wise to belong to an association
Operators must comply with the following conditions:
- The vehicle must be marked as providing scholar transport
- There must be a first aid kit and fire extinguisher in the vehicle at all times
- There also needs to be passenger list in the vehicle with the addresses of everyone in the vehicle, along with a copy of the identification document or birth certificate of each scholar
- When pre-primary, primary school children or children with physical, mental or visual disabilities, are transported under the same operating licence, a responsible adult (other than the driver) must be in the vehicle to manage the children and help ensure their safety.
Restricted Conduct
- Do not offload the learners anywhere where stopping is prohibited i.e pedestrian crossing; stop street and at a traffic intersection.
- Do not offload learners in front of scholar patrollers as this action may obstruct their view of the road
- Do not drink and drive
- Do not talk on the cell phone or text whilst driving
- Do not overload your vehicle
- Do not play loud music when transporting scholars
- Do not drive facing oncoming traffic
- Do not let learners sit in your vehicle during school hours
- Do not gamble at your stations waiting for learners
- Do not carry alcohol in your vehicle
MINIBUS AND TAXI SAFETY
The minibus taxi industry is today the most critical pillar of our public transport sector. Not only is it the most available mode of transport, it is also the most affordable to the public.
Minibus taxis are the only form of public transport that penetrates every last sector in the cities, including the poorest shack settlements.
Requirements
- A driver must have a valid driver license with PRDP in his/her possession at all times when transporting passengers.
- A driver must ensure the vehicle is roadworthy
- Ensure that the license disc and operator card are displayed on the windscreen of the vehicle
- Place the vehicle license disc and operator card only on the left side of the windscreen
Traffic rules
- A driver must ensure that the vehicle is roadworthy before setting off on any journey
- A driver must always obey the rules of the road at all times, (keeping to the speed limit, stop at stop signs, indicate his/her intentions before stopping, turning or overtaking)
- A driver must always be observant at all times (expect the unexpected)
- A driver must always keep a 3 second following distance (safe following distance)
- A driver must ensure that he/she and the passengers wear safety belt always
- A driver must always consider other motorists when slowing down or pulling off
- A driver must give right of way to vehicles approaching from the right hand side at the traffic circle
- A driver should have enough rest before taking a long-distance trip
- A motorist must give way to any pedestrian on or about to enter the pedestrian crossing
Restricted conduct
- Do not overload your vehicle
- Do not drink and drive
- Do not skip the red traffic lights
- Do not drive on the emergency/yellow lane
- Do not drive facing oncoming traffic
- Do not overtake on the solid barrier line
- Do not overtake on any kind of bend or turn of any sorts on a hill when there is a blind rise
- Do not talk on the cell phone or text whilst driving
- Do not load or offload the passengers in or at the intersections
- Do not stop or park at pedestrian crossings
ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGNS
Safe places for pedestrians to cross the road
- Pedestrian crossing
- Traffic Light
- Stop Sign
- School Patrol
- Pedestrian Bridge
- At a place where there is a Law Enforcement Officer on duty, always look right and left before crossing the road
- Some of the basic safety tips all road users should adhere to:
- Always buckle up
- Get an adequate amount of quality sleep before setting off on your journey
- Avoid alcoholic beverages and heavy foods
- If you are taking any medications, make sure that they won’t impair your driving ability
- Stop and take a break from driving at least every two hours
- If you are feeling really tired, stop at a safe place and take a nap-wait for at least ten minutes before getting back on the road as you need to ensure that you properly awakeStop over somewhere for the night if your journey is going to take a number of hours
- If possible, drive with a companion and switch driving when you start to feel tired
- Talk with passengers to help you stay alert, although not to the extent that you become distracted
- Keep temperature in your car cool as a warmer environment encourages lethargy
- Make a point of checking blind spots and ‘reading’ the road and traffic conditions-don’t just keep your eye on the vehicle ahead of you
Road safety
Easter holidays and festive season there is an increase in traffic. During this time, we need to pay special attention to the rules of the road to ensure the safety of everybody on the road
- The law says that seatbelts must be worn always
- Never lean or wave out of the window, or throw or hang anything out
- Do not block the driver’s view in the mirror
- Only open doors or windows if it is safe
- Keep your hands away from the door handles while the car is moving
- When you get in or out of the car, use the door on the pavement side
- If you have one, use your safety lock when children are unattended in the rear of the car
Before leaving…
- Start any trip by getting enough sleep-at least for six hours before you leave.
- Plan your route, refuelling, rests and overnight stops
- Check your car’s road worthiness.
- Headlights, indicators, stop lights, tail-lights, windscreen wiper blades, mirrors, brakes, steering, tyres, exhaust system, oil and fuel leaks.
- Check coolant, fluids and oil levels.
- Check that the spare wheel is in good condition and properly inflated. Make sure that you have a serviceable jack and wheel brace.
While travelling…
- Do not consume any alcohol during your trip
- An overheated or very cold vehicle can compound the effects fatigue.
- Make sure that you rest when you are not driving.
- Boredom can also cause fatigue. Music /radio / conversation is helpful.
- Keep safe distance-4 seconds from the car in front of you.
- Adhere to speed limits.
Motorcycle / Motorbike Safety
Motorcycles are the smallest vehicles on the road. Unfortunately, they provide virtually no protection in a crash. Other drivers may not see you on your motorcycle, so you must be aware of everything on the road.
Be extra cautious, paying attention to the signals and brake lights of other vehicles, especially trucks.
Ride with caution and drive defensively. Even though your motorcycle may be small, you must adhere to the laws of the road.
Never ride in between lanes in traffic or share a lane with another vehicle. Don’t instigate aggressive driving with other motorists, you will only increase your chance of a crash.
Watch your speed
Of all vehicles, motorcycles accelerate the fastest, while trucks and buses are the slowest. Please watch your speed around trucks, especially in bad weather or at night. Colliding with the back of a truck could cause serious injuries.
Tracing/ Alcohol Evidence Centre
Enforce
FUNCTIONS
Administer Tri-band functions: Crime Prevention, Traffic Management and By-laws Enforcement Management
ANPR (Automation Number Plate Recognition) system is linked to SAPS system
Stop detected motor vehicles through the camera via e-NATIS and Ciprus systems and cloned vehicles
Un-roadworthy and unlicensed vehicles (fraudulent license discs)
Speed Section
The main objective for officers at the Speed Section is the reduction of fatal and serious injury crashes caused by speeding.
FUNCTIONS
Detect and enforce motoring offenses
Operate speed cameras thadetectts the speed of vehicles
Auto Electronic speed enforcement
High-speed enforcement Non-Admission of guilt (NAG)
Speed complaints in urban areas
Red light speed enforcement and unauthorized use of bus lanes.
Manual Speed enforcement
Contact Us
Johannesburg Metro Police Department- JMPD
@johannesburgMetropolitanPoliceDepartment2001
195 Main Road
Martindale
Tel +27 (0) 11 758 9100
Fax +27 (0) 11 758 9189