National police commissioner Fannie Masemola will appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on April 21 as investigations widen into alleged corruption and procurement violations within SAPS.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia has confirmed that National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has been charged under the Public Finance Management Act, but not with corruption.
Cachalia said he will meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss the matter amid a looming crisis within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Masemola remains in office as national commissioner pending Ramaphosa’s response to the charges.
“General Masemola has been charged. The charges are under Section 38 of the Public Finance Management Act. This concerns the standards that an accounting officer must meet in dealing with procurement decisions,” Cachalia told eNCA.
He added that others implicated in the matter face more serious allegations.
“As far as I understand, others have been charged with corruption. General Masemola has not been charged with corruption. However, being charged under procurement legislation - the Public Finance Management Act - is serious enough,” he said.
Cachalia confirmed Masemola is still serving as national commissioner.
“Of course, a decision has to be made about how we should respond to the fact that he has been charged,” he said.
On Wednesday, IOL News reported that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and SAPS confirmed Masemola had been served with a summons to appear in court in connection with a R360 million tender.
Ramaphosa has formally acknowledged the development.
NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said Masemola is expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on 21 April. He declined to provide further details.
“That’s all we can say, because we can’t talk about the contents of the summons,” Kganyago said.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the summons relates to the Medicare 24 procurement tender. She said Masemola was served on Wednesday and will comply with the legal process.
Mathe said the national commissioner remains committed to the rule of law and will cooperate fully.
“General Masemola welcomes any investigation or due process that seeks to address allegations of wrongdoing,” she said.
Ramaphosa also acknowledged the broader arrests of 12 senior police officers linked to the same procurement matter.
Those detained include Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, General Temba, Brigadier Kistey Jonker and Brigadier Ofentse Tlhoaele.
They face allegations including fraud, money laundering and violations of the Public Finance Management Act.
In a related development, former senior officer Brigadier Petunia Lenono has also been arrested. Lenono resigned weeks before the controversial tender was awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane - a timing now under scrutiny.
At the centre of the scandal is businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, whose links to the multimillion-rand contract have triggered a wide-ranging investigation into alleged corruption and procurement irregularities within SAPS.
The Presidency said any action regarding Masemola will follow due legal process.
“The President, working with the Minister of Police, is committed to ensuring that SAPS remains stable and able to continue fulfilling its policing mandate,” the Presidency said.
IOL News