Zuko Komisa
- Former JMPD Chief David Tembe was found dead at his private Johannesburg home, with a post-mortem pending to determine the cause.
- Tembe’s four-decade public service career, which included being JMPD Chief and MMC for Public Safety, was marred by a 2020 Public Protector finding that he had fraudulently obtained his police diploma.
- The death of the highly regarded but controversial figure comes as South Africa’s criminal justice system is under two official state investigations.
Former Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) Chief David Tembe has been found deceased at his private residence.
The news, confirmed by the City of Johannesburg’s Department of Public Safety, stated that Mr Tembe was discovered unresponsive yesterday, and emergency services pronounced him dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination is scheduled to be carried out to ascertain the precise cause of death. Mr Tembe, who had most recently been serving as a strategic advisor to the City’s Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, leaves behind a career spanning over four decades.
Tembe initially began his long public service career as a paramedic with the Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services.
He ultimately rose through the ranks, being appointed JMPD Chief in 2017, a role he maintained for four years. Following this, he served as the MMC for Public Safety from 2021 until 2023.
The City of Johannesburg has lauded Tembe for his enduring legacy, highlighting his “community-centred approach to policing, his unwavering commitment to the welfare of officers, and his relentless pursuit of safer streets.”
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