Suspension lifted
Bongani Hans|Published
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola must immediately kick the ball rolling on his return to the office tomorrow, and prioritise cleaning up the police force of rotten potatoes identified by the Madlanga Commission.
This was the advice from Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), a lobby group against corruption, in reaction to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s lifting of Masemola’s five-month-long cautionary suspension on Friday.
Ramaphosa has also been called to consider extending Masemola’s term of office when it ends in March next year.
Masemola will officially report for duty at his office in Pretoria police headquarters for the first time tomorrow after he was suspended and replaced by Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane in an acting capacity from April 23.
OUTA chief executive officer Wayne Duvenage yesterday welcomed Masemola’s return, saying that the delay was understandable due to necessary processes.
He reminded Masemola that a lot of work needs to be done in dealing with crime and corruption, which are the country's major challenges.
“Professionalising the police and making sure that the things that we see unfolding at the Madlanga Commission are dealt with should be his top priority.
“We need to see lifestyle audits within the police and must start cleaning up,” said Duvenage.
Ramaphosa announced Masemola’s return to work two days after the Sunday Tribune asked his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, why the commissioner remained out of office despite the charges against him having been dropped and no known internal disciplinary proceedings being under way.
“The President is attending to the matter,” said Magwenya, who declined to answer other related questions.
Masemola was suspended after his first appearance at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court facing charges of contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) in relation to a R228 million tender awarded to Medicare 24 linked to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, an alleged criminal mastermind.
The court officially withdrew the charges on September 22 after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s September 15 decision not to continue prosecuting him due to insufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
Duvenage understands that Masemola is coming from a traumatic situation of being suspected of committing a crime, charged and suspended, only to find no supporting evidence.
“The real issue was the anxiety and the pressure that he must have gone through, which must have been quite heavy on him and something that is not nice to go through.
“You can see that there has been a political agenda at play,” said Duvenage.
He also called on Ramaphosa to decide on the fate of suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who is enjoying ministerial perks, including full salary, since July 13, 2025.
The state is also paying Professor Firoz Cachalia’s salary as the acting police minister.
“The president needs to make a decision as it has been well over a year and a couple of months now that Mchunu has been on suspension with full pay,” he said.
He said although Mchunu has not yet been proven guilty by the court, there are enough reasons for Ramaphosa to remove him from the cabinet.
“The president does not have to wait for a court case to be able to make a decision, because he has dismissed people for much lesser offences.
Addressing the media at the official inauguration of a mining facility at Aggeneys in the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape on Friday, Ramaphosa commended Masemola for conducting himself with discipline during his suspension.
“Once I put him on leave, he went on leave, he kept quiet and made sure that he abided by the processes that were put in place, which is why we reinstated him,” said Ramaphosa.
Crime expert Professor Johan Burger said he was looking forward to the extension of Masemola’s contract next year. Masemola's contract ends in March 2027.
“It would be a good thing for the president to consider extending the contract despite his (Masemola's) suspension. He brings stability to the police leadership at a time when the police need it, in view of several senior police officers - some of whom are generals - who have been suspended, criminally charged or dismissed.
“The leadership issue in the police is crucially important at the moment,” said Burger.
Burger alleged that Masemola was dragged into trouble intentionally, even though he has never been involved in criminal activities.
“He was only facing possible charges in terms of the PFMA, which was clearly and deliberately aimed at discrediting and getting him out of the way,” he said.
He said Masemola got into trouble when he rubbed up criminal syndicate leaders the wrong way by appreciating KwaZulu-Natal police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s outburst against criminal activities within the justice system.
“Therefore, getting Masemola out of the way was clearly part of the actions taken by those involved with organised criminal groups,” he said.
The South African Policing Union (SAPU) said Ramaphosa upheld the rule of law principles, fairness and justice for heeding the concerns raised by South Africans regarding Masemola’s suspension.
“We firmly believe that no individual should be subjected to unfair treatment or punishment without sufficient legal grounds.
“The return of General Masemola provides an important opportunity to restore stability, confidence and effective leadership within the South African Police Service.
“SAPU wishes General Masemola strength, wisdom and courage as he resumes his responsibilities, particularly during this critical period as the country prepares for elections and approaches the festive season,” the union’s statement read.