Police minister must pay R400,000 for unlawful arrest 31.03.2026

The Johannesburg high court has ordered the minister of police to pay Thabo Jacob Tilo R400,000 in damages for his unlawful arrest and month-long detention in 2014. Tilo was arrested on April 23, 2014, in connection with a shooting incident on April 1, 2014, in Lewisham, Krugersdorp, where two police officers were wounded. Despite police recovering a 6.35mm firearm at a friend's residence and finding clothing similar to that worn by a suspect in a photograph, the court found no forensic link between the recovered firearm and the 9mm ammunition used in the shooting. The court dismissed Tilo's claim for malicious prosecution, stating there was no evidence that prosecutors acted with malice or without reasonable grounds, even though the investigation and prosecution faced criticism for delays and weak evidence.














