While several parties are concerned by a pattern of alleged malfeasance within the Police Ministry, attention is now shifting to the new Acting National Police Commissioner.
This follows the precautionary suspension of National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, on Thursday. President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his absence, appointed Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, albeit in a temporary capacity.
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Masemola joins other high-ranking officials related to the Police Ministry, who have been accused of wrongdoing, like Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. His suspension has raised serious concerns among several political parties.
Several political parties have expressed concern over the suspension of National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola.
ActionSA said this is reflective of the growing instability preventing proper law enforcement. MP Dereleen James said that while Masemola’s suspension was expected, it adds to the perception that the government is losing control of its integrity.
“These repeated reactive interventions point to a deeper failure of leadership and oversight. The President has allowed a situation to develop where allegations of criminality and misconduct at the highest levels of government and law enforcement have become commonplace,” said James, adding that she would monitor Dimpane’s appointment.
DA leader, Geordin-Hill Lewis, believes Masemola’s suspension is not enough, noting that he has long called for a board of inquiry into his fitness to hold office. It believes that it must now take place.
“These serious allegations require full and proper scrutiny so that accountability is not delayed, diluted or quietly avoided. But this also lays bare the deeply alarming state of SAPS senior management… South Africans cannot be expected to trust a police service when scandal, suspension and allegations of corruption have become defining features of its senior command.”
At the same time, the EFF believes his suspension confirms that the current ANC/DA government is not punishing corruption but rather managing or accommodating it. In its statement, it noted that “corruption in SAPS is systemic, institutionalised and politically protected”.
“The EFF further asserts that this culture of impunity within SAPS is drawn directly from the conduct of the Head of State. President Cyril Ramaphosa has not been held accountable for the Phala Phala scandal, and this failure has entrenched a dangerous precedent across the state.”
The Good Party’s Brett Herron believes Masemola should instead resign.
“Long-suffering South Africans should not have had to wait for Masemola to be suspended after appearing in court in relation to alleged tender oversight failures. He should have been pushed out last year when the levels of depravity in the senior ranks of police under his command became clear… There is no evidence that Masemola benefited from corruption, but his weak management enabled corruption. The police need stronger leadership,” said Herron.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, has called on the acting National Police Commissioner to ensure accountability across the Police Ministry.
Cameron urged Dimpane to implement internal disciplinary probes where police officials are identified in alleged wrongdoing at the Madlanga Commission or Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee.
He specifically mentioned the SAPS Supply Chain Management Divisional Commissioner, Lieutenant General Molefe Fani, who allegedly oversaw the irregular procurement process involving the contract of Vusimuzi Cat Matlala’s company, Medicare24. This is the same case Masemola has been implicated in.
“Accountability must not be delayed. If it only emerges during moments of scandal, it reflects a reactive system. A functional democracy requires accountability to be embedded in everyday governance which makes the system predictable, impartial, and consistently enforced,” said Cameron.
