Three Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) officers were injured after a routine by-law enforcement operation in Winterveldt escalated into violent unrest, prompting multiple arrests and a strong condemnation from police leadership.
The incident unfolded on Saturday, 24 January 2026, when TMPD officers from Region 1, Sector 1 in Mabopane were conducting compliance inspections targeting businesses operating illegally in the area. During the operation, officers visited a shop owned by a Pakistani national, where they were met with resistance.
According to TMPD, the shop owner and another man locked themselves inside the premises in an apparent attempt to evade inspection. Emergency Services were later called to assist in gaining access to the shop.
Once inside, officers uncovered serious violations, including the illegal sale of alcohol and the operation of an unlicensed gambling business. Authorities confiscated the alcohol and shut down the premises.
However, the enforcement action sparked a violent reaction from members of the community. Stones were hurled at police officers and patrol vehicles, tyres were stabbed with sharp objects, and officers were forced to retreat under attack. Three TMPD officers sustained injuries, while several vehicles were damaged.
Backup from TMPD and SAPS Public Order Policing units was deployed to stabilise the situation. The shop owner was arrested and found to be in the country illegally, in contravention of the Immigration Act of 2002. Three additional suspects were also arrested for their role in the attack.
The suspects are currently being held at a local police station and face charges including assault on police officers, malicious damage to property, interference with law enforcement, and public violence. Authorities have indicated that further charges may follow as investigations continue.
TMPD Chief of Police, Commissioner Yolanda Christina Rangata Faro, condemned the attack in the strongest terms, describing it as “barbaric and cowardly.” She warned that lawlessness would not be tolerated in Tshwane, stressing that an attack on police officers is an attack on the state itself. “We will act decisively against anyone who seeks to underm.
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