The Western Cape High Court has ruled it unlawful that SAPS raided the offices of Cape Town’s Safety and Security chief, JP Smith.  

His office, along with that of Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Xanthea Limberg, was searched by the police’s Commercial Crimes Unit in January as part of a probe into housing tender fraud. 

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Smith has long argued that the operation was politically motivated.  

“I have steadfastly maintained my innocence since the raid on my office on 24 January 2025 and always believed this was the result of a calculated smear campaign against me,” he said. 

In response to the court’s findings, Smith said he has for nearly two decades built the City’s Safety and Security Directorate into a structure designed to not only support SAPS but also disrupt organised crime networks.  

“Our investigations have led to detecting and blocking syndicates in Cape Town which also resulted in the National Treasury blacklisting individuals and companies, barring them from obtaining government tenders across South Africa,” he explained. 

He believes these successes of the directorate triggered backlash.  

“It was only when the impact of these investigations was felt by the heads of these syndicates, that the attacks turned personal.”

READ MORE: JP Smith reacts to court findings 

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis expressed his satisfaction that the matter had been clarified. Hill-Lewis emphasised that both Smith and Limberg “have always conducted their public duties with distinction and integrity”. 

“I am glad that justice has been done in this matter, which unfairly cast aspersions on these mayoral committee members, who can now continue their excellent work in service of Capetonians. JP, in particular, is one of South Africa’s foremost crime fighters.”