by KEITUMETSE SKGOMA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – RESIDENTS and foreign nationals in Hillbrow, Berea, and Yeoville, Johannesburg are raising alarm over what they describe as widespread corruption and misconduct by police officers in the Hillbrow precinct.
Allegations of unauthorised midnight roadblocks, extortion of motorists and pedestrians, and harassment of foreign nationals have intensified during the festive season, prompting calls for urgent intervention by the Madlanga Commission.
Hillbrow police have long been notorious for a reputation of unprofessionalism, bribe-seeking, and selective enforcement of the law.
Community members and commentators argue that instead of addressing rising crime in the area—including muggings, drug dealing, and robberies—the police increasingly focus on targeting foreigners and individuals caught drinking or minor traffic offences, which offer easier opportunities for extracting cash.
Residents allege that officers frequently establish illegal roadblocks at night, stopping drivers and pedestrians without cause.
Many report being forced to pay “spot fines” for fabricated or trivial offences, often under threat of arrest or confiscation of their vehicles.
Abimbola Adeyemi, a Nigerian national living in Hillbrow, told CAJ News Africa, “Chief culprits are Hillbrow police officers, and we have names and vehicle plates. They exploit their authority to milk us for money. We urgently appeal to the Madlanga Commission to investigate this corruption and unprofessionalism, particularly their targeting of foreigners.”
Foreign nationals—including Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Nigerians, Malawians, and Ethiopians—say they are disproportionately targeted.
João Ossa, from Mozambique, explained, “If they cannot find any crime, they invent charges to get cash. We are tired of paying for crimes we did not commit.”
Similarly, Haile Tesfaye from Ethiopia added, “Criminals and drug dealers walk free because they pay the police daily. Law-abiding citizens are terrorised instead, and we now fear the police more than the criminals themselves.”
Sibongile Ncube, a Zimbabwean resident, described the situation as “out of hand,” noting that officers prioritize personal gain over public safety.
Yasin Banda from Malawi echoed her concerns, warning that the community’s trust in law enforcement has eroded.
Experts warn that communities suffering under corrupt, unethical, and unprofessional policing face severe social consequences.
When law enforcement prioritizes bribes over crime prevention, criminal activity escalates, public safety deteriorates, and residents lose confidence in institutions designed to protect them.
Such environments can foster vigilantism, economic decline, and social unrest, as law-abiding citizens become vulnerable and criminals operate with impunity.
The Madlanga Commission, established to investigate misconduct within South African policing, is being urged to prioritize Hillbrow station in its inquiries.
Residents believe a thorough investigation is necessary to restore professionalism, hold officers accountable, and protect both locals and foreign nationals from exploitation.
With Johannesburg’s crime levels rising, the community says urgent reform of the Hillbrow police is critical. Residents and foreign nationals alike are demanding oversight, transparency, and an ethical, service-oriented police force that enforces the law fairly—rather than preying on vulnerable populations for personal gain.
– CAJ News