By Linda Ximba
Celebrated sports broadcaster Robert Marawa has criticised the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) over its late-night roadblocks, calling the department a “terrorist organisation” in a social media post.
Marawa, known for speaking out on issues such as Gauteng’s water crisis and policing matters, made the remarks following the Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, 28 February 2026. Posting on X in the early hours of the morning, he questioned the legality of JMPD breathalyser operations and accused officers of targeting motorists at night while being absent during daytime crime.
The department, through the MMC, maintains that roadblocks fall within its traffic law enforcement mandate under the South African Police Service Amendment Act. Drunk-driving operations form part of broader crime prevention efforts aimed at reducing road fatalities.
Marawa’s comments divided opinion online, with some supporting his frustration while others defended the police, arguing that enforcing drunk-driving laws is a necessary public safety measure.
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