POLICE BOSS IN THE DOCK AS REPUBLIC REELS: MASEMOLA CHARGED, CAMERON DEMANDS SUSPENSION

National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola stands in the dock at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, Tuesday 21 April 2026, as he faces four charges under the Public Finance Management Act linked to the cancelled R228 million SAPS health services tender.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief

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National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court this morning facing four charges under the Public Finance Management Act.

The charges relate to the controversial R228 million SAPS health services tender awarded in 2024 to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company, Medicare24 Tshwane District. The tender was cancelled in May 2025 and has since become the subject of a major criminal case.  

Masemola did not enter a plea. The matter was postponed to 13 May, when he will return to court alongside Matlala and fifteen other accused, including twelve senior police officers. Speaking to journalists outside court after his brief appearance, Masemola said he was not guilty of any wrongdoing and that the law must take its course.  

Police Portfolio Committee chairperson Ian Cameron reacted immediately to the court appearance. He called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend Masemola without delay and appoint an acting national commissioner with no links to the ongoing Madlanga Commission. Cameron said the current situation shows massive instability inside the South African Police Service.

He said it looks bad for the country to have a national commissioner facing charges while the police minister is only acting and the previous minister remains in limbo.  

Masemola is the third national police commissioner in less than twenty years to face criminal charges. Jackie Selebi was convicted of corruption in 2010 and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. Kgomotso Phahlane was charged in 2017, those charges were withdrawn, and he was charged again in 2019 in a case that is still before the courts.

Masemola is not charged with corruption. The State alleges he failed in his duties as the accounting officer of the police under section 38 of the Public Finance Management Act.  

The case against Masemola and the other accused came out of the Madlanga Commission. President Ramaphosa set up the commission last September to investigate corruption in the police after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made allegations that organised crime had infiltrated the upper levels of government. The twelve senior officers charged in this matter are accused of colluding with Matlala. Matlala is facing corruption charges.  

Masemola has served in the police for thirty-nine years. He was appointed national commissioner in 2022 after serving as deputy national commissioner for operations and as head of the VIP protection unit. He also led security operations for every election since 1994. When he was appointed, many in policing circles said his record brought new hope to the service. Crime expert Dr Johan Burger said this week that Masemola was highly regarded and had supported the fight against corruption.  

Cameron said suspending Masemola is not about deciding his guilt. He said it is about the President’s constitutional duty to protect the functioning of the police. He said South Africans deserve a police service led by people whose integrity is beyond question and that restoring institutional integrity must come before political convenience. Cameron added that strong vetting and lifestyle audits for SAPS leadership must now be mandatory.  

The Presidency has said Ramaphosa will address the matter in accordance with the law. For now, Masemola remains in office while the case continues. The next court date is 13 May 2026.