Ramaphosa places police boss on suspension

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed the country's National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola on precautionary suspension. Daily Maverick reports that the sidelining comes two days after he made his first court appearance in Pretoria on criminal charges for allegedly contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PMFA) in a case connected to a dubiously awarded police tender. Ramaphosa named police's Divisional Commissioner for Financial Services Puleng Dimpane as the Acting National Police Commissioner. Ramaphosa said he took this decision given the seriousness of the criminal charges Masemola is facing. ‘I have agreed with General Masemola that he be deemed to be on precautionary suspension pending the conclusion of the case,’ said Ramaphosa. TimesLIVE reports that the President said Dimpane’s appointment was made to ensure stability and continuity within the SA Police Service (SAPS). Masemola appeared in court this week. Masemola is facing four counts of contravening the PFMA as the accounting officer of SAPS. One of the charges he faces is that he failed to screen Medicare24 before it received the tender. Ramaphosa has been under pressure to suspend Masemola since his first court appearance. Ramaphosa said his decision to place Masemola on suspension is in line with his State of the Nation Address where he declared that the country would be stepping up the fight against organised crime, with the Madlanga Commission being a big part of this move. ‘For this fight to be successful, I said that it is vital that our law enforcement agencies are capable, ethical and effective,’ said Ramaphosa.

Political reaction to Dimpane's appointment began pouring in shortly after the announcement. In a statement, Police Committee chairperson Ian Cameron said: ‘This action is both necessary and overdue. The integrity of SAPS must take precedence, and decisive leadership is critical to stabilising the institution and restoring public trust.’ While Masemola's precautionary suspension did not imply guilt, Cameron said accountability at the highest levels of law enforcement cannot be compromised, according to News24. ‘In a country grappling with high levels of crime, South Africans must have full confidence that those entrusted with upholding the law are beyond reproach. This decision sends a clear message that no one is above accountability,’ he said. Meanwhile, Ramaphosa said any formal action or decision regarding the future of suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu will wait until the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into alleged police capture releases its final findings, reports The Mercury. Ramaphosa said he cannot use his constitutional authority to dismiss Mchunu without a proper investigation and verified facts, adding that acting on untested allegations would be unfair. 

Full report in The Mercury

See also a report in The Mercury

Full Daily Maverick report

See also a report in the Cape Times

See also a report in the Cape Argus

Full TimesLIVE report

Full News24 report