National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola has questioned the motives behind his prosecution, suggesting the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) pursued a bigger plan that ultimately failed.
Masemola broke his silence on Friday, 16 October, after President Cyril Ramaphosa lifted his precautionary suspension, clearing the way for his return to office on Monday.
Speaking to Business Day, Masemola suggested that IDAC’s decision to charge him may have formed part of a broader agenda targeting senior police officials.
“Maybe one day we will know what the plan was, but it did not succeed,” he said.
MASEMOLA QUESTIONS IDAC’S MOTIVES
Masemola said he did not know what motivated investigators to pursue the case but believed they had intended to achieve something beyond his prosecution.
His remarks follow the collapse of criminal charges linked to a R228 million SAPS healthcare tender awarded to Medicare24, a company owned by alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
IDAC charged Masemola with four counts of contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
Prosecutors accused him of failing to take appropriate steps to prevent irregular expenditure linked to the contract.
He did not face corruption charges.
MADLANGA COMMISSION HEARS CLAIMS AGAINST IDAC
The Madlanga Commission previously heard allegations that former IDAC head Advocate Andrea Johnson had pushed for criminal charges against Masemola and other senior police officials.
IDAC state prosecutor Drushantha Ramsamy testified about alleged efforts to target Masemola and Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo.
The commission also scrutinised IDAC’s decision to include Masemola in the Medicare24 corruption case.
During her testimony, Johnson struggled to identify the legal basis for joining Masemola to the proceedings.
Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga questioned whether prosecutors had sought to damage Masemola’s reputation by associating him with corruption allegations.
The commission has not established Masemola’s suggestion of a broader plan as fact.
NPA ORDERS REVIEW OF FAILED PROSECUTION
National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andy Mothibi ordered prosecutors to withdraw the charges against Masemola on 15 September.
The decision followed a review of the evidence gathered by IDAC, alongside assessments by a case assessment panel and independent senior counsel.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) concluded that prosecutors had no reasonable prospect of securing a conviction.
The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court formally withdrew the charges on 22 September.
However, questions remain over how prosecutors handled the case.
The NPA referred the matter to the IDAC judge to investigate whether prosecutors committed misconduct when assessing the evidence, enrolling the case and applying the law.
The review has not established misconduct.
MASEMOLA SET FOR MONDAY RETURN
Ramaphosa confirmed on Friday that Masemola would resume his duties on Monday, 19 October, nearly six months after his suspension.
The president also thanked Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane, who served as acting national police commissioner during his absence.
Masemola has indicated that he intends to complete his term, which ends in 2027.
His return comes as the Madlanga Commission continues investigating allegations of corruption and criminal interference in South Africa’s law enforcement structures.