Witness

Inspector Emma Phakoane

Inspector, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department · Johannesburg

Named in evidence

A serving Johannesburg metro police inspector named from the stand in connection with an alleged attempt to buy a colleague out of a robbery case. On Day 173, 15 September 2026, Superintendent Elmarie de Beer, head of the JMPD's internal affairs unit, gave the Madlanga Commission an account of a case that had already produced a conviction: a JMPD officer named Mphahlele was convicted of robbing a businessperson of R1.5 million in 2023 under the guise of a police operation and is awaiting sentencing. Per Sowetan and Daily Maverick, de Beer's evidence was that Phakoane offered a Hawks officer R550,000 to secure Mphahlele's release, and that Chief Superintendent Tintswalo Rikhotso took part in the approach. On the evidence before the commission Phakoane remains employed by the JMPD. That is the whole of the public record on her. The allegation is untested, it has not been put to any court, she has not testified to this commission, she has answered nothing publicly, no criminal charge against her has been reported, and she is presumed innocent.

This profile summarises testimony and evidence given on the public record before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. It restates allegations as presented at the hearings and is not a finding of guilt, liability, or wrongdoing by any person.