Truck theft in Putfontein under the spotlight at Madlanga Inquiry

IPID assistant director Thulani Magagula.

The theft of a truck and its load in Putfontein, Benoni, east of Johannesburg, is under the spotlight at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria.

This follows allegations that officers from the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department’s (EMPD) specialised services unit committed the theft in 2023.

The unit was apparently under the command of now-suspended Deputy Police Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Assistant Director Thulani Magagula has told Commissioner Sesi Baloyi that the EMPD brought the matter to their attention.

Baloyi asked: “And who reported it to Putfontein? Is it EMPD or is it the complainant?”

Magagula replied: “It will be EMPD because the SAPS, in the first place, refused to open the case for the complainant for the fact that they saw the truck being escorted by members of EMPD. So they didn’t believe that the truck had been stolen. Because they said they saw the truck being escorted by Metro Police. So now EMPD is coming back with a statement now, to say can you assist in opening the case?”

MADLANGA COMMISSION | IPID’s Thulani Magagula says the EMPD had enough information to launch their own investigation and disciplinary action towards the members implicated in the Putfontein case, but the matter is still pending. pic.twitter.com/G2b1jaLMnj

— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 13, 2026