Man appears in Ermelo court after video calling for police officer to be killed

A 39-year-old man appeared at the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Monday after a social media video allegedly called for a Police Warrant Officer stationed in Ermelo to be attacked and killed. The accused faces charges of intimidation and assault, and his matter was postponed to 3 July 2026 for a formal bail application.

How the case unfolded

According to reports from the South African Police Service (Saps), a post was circulated on social media calling for an attack on the warrant officer. A case was opened and an investigation enabled police to identify and trace the suspect.

During the arrest the suspect allegedly resisted and assaulted a police officer. Saps said the suspect remains in custody.

Further investigations and related matters

Saps stated the man is also being investigated for possible involvement in another intimidation case linked to a violent protest in Ermelo where police intervened.

Police responses and other arrests in the province

Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Saps in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, emphasised that the police will act against acts of intimidation, attacks on law enforcement and criminality targeting businesses.

In a separate incident, officers in Grootvlei arrested three suspects, aged 30 to 35, on Sunday on charges of intimidation and theft. Saps reports say the trio allegedly entered a shop owned by a foreign national, threatened him with violence and took items; they were traced and arrested shortly afterwards.

What happens next

The accused will return to the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on 3 July 2026 for a formal bail application as the investigations continue.