Murder Case
1Min
South Africa
Nov 25, 2025
David Tembe, ex-chief of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department and long-serving public safety official, was found unresponsive in his home. Emergency teams pronounced him dead at the scene. A post-mortem has been scheduled to determine the cause of death.
David Tembe, former head of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and ex-MMC for Public Safety, has been found dead at his residence. Emergency services raced to his private home after reports that he was unresponsive, but he was declared deceased on arrival, the City’s Public Safety Department confirmed. The circumstances surrounding his death are still unclear, and a post-mortem examination has been ordered to establish the cause.
Tembe was serving as a strategic advisor to MMC Dr Mgcini Tshwaku at the time of his death. His public service career stretched over four decades: he began in 1981 as a paramedic with Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services, rose to become JMPD Chief in 2017, and later served as the city’s Public Safety MMC until 2023. He was widely respected for his community-centred approach to policing, commitment to officer welfare, and relentless drive to improve safety on Johannesburg’s streets.
City officials expressed their profound sorrow, extending condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Memorial and funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
