ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba JMPD Officer Ben Moabi says residents in Soweto need leadership, not promises, as Herman Mashaba is announced as the party's mayoral candidate for Johannesburg’s 2026 local government elections.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer Ben Thabo Moabi says the tenure of Herman Mashaba as mayor of Johannesburg restored law enforcement morale and strengthened the fight against crime, particularly in Soweto.
Speaking at the Orlando Community Hall in Soweto on Saturday, where Mashaba was announced as his party’s mayoral candidate ahead of the 2026 local government elections, Moabi said he was addressing the gathering not only as an officer but as someone who patrols local streets daily.
“I stand before you not just as an officer of the law, but as a man who patrols the streets of Soweto, and when the cry arises, we feel it first,” he said.
Reflecting on Mashaba’s previous term as mayor, Moabi said law enforcement officers witnessed leadership that prioritised restoring order within the City of Johannesburg.
“During the tenure of Mr Herman Mashaba, as a mayor of Johannesburg, we saw leadership that begged law enforcement and restored the law,” he said.
He added that a dedicated anti-corruption unit was launched to clean up corruption within the city administration.
For officers, he said, internal accountability was critical to effective policing.
“For us as officers, that matters because you cannot enforce the law outside and there is lawlessness inside,” Moabi said.
He highlighted that in 2019, 1,500 JMPD trainees were recruited to strengthen law enforcement capacity and increase visibility in communities.
The city also launched its first K9 narcotics unit, Amabarret, aimed at fighting human trafficking and drug trafficking, as well as recovering stolen copper.
According to Moabi, the tactical unit was better equipped to tackle organised crime and recover stolen vehicles, which he described as a persistent nightmare in communities.
He said CCTV cameras were repaired and street lights improved, particularly in crime hotspots. There was also an operational initiative, Buya Mthetho, targeting hijacked buildings in the inner city.
Moabi further noted that security officers were insourced from private security companies to become permanent city employees, and that JMPD salaries were increased to boost morale.
“We used to be recognised, like I so miss every year we used to win Polo VIvo’s like nobody's business,” he said.
He stressed that communities were not looking for promises but for leadership that supports and protects residents.
“We do not need promises, but we need leadership to support and protect our communities. Soweto deserves safety. Johannesburg can work again,” Moabi said.
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