Police Union Pushes for Reinstatement of Suspended National Commissioner General Masemola
Pretoria – The South African Policing Union (SAPU) has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to reinstate General Fannie Masemola, the suspended National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
This appeal comes after Advocate Drushantha Ramsamy from the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) testified on Friday, 14 August 2026, before the Madlanga Commission. He indicated that while prosecutors found no prima facie evidence linking General Masemola, his family, and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s questionable tender, they were nonetheless instructed to investigate him.
“It was evident to me that General Masemola was being targeted, with rules potentially being bent to ensnare him by any means necessary,” Advocate Ramsamy expressed during the Commission’s proceedings.
In a statement released on Monday, 17 August 2026, SAPU claimed that the evidence presented during the ongoing Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System pointed toward an “unjust targeting” of General Masemola.
Despite General Masemola’s decision to cancel the multi-million-rand SAPS health-services/Medicare24 contract after an internal audit uncovered irregularities, he was suspended on allegations of negligence.
The three-year contract, valued at approximately R360 million, was awarded to Matlala’s Medicare24 in June 2024.
However, General Masemola terminated the contract in April 2025.
SAPU asserted that the evidence “raised significant concerns” regarding the IDAC’s investigation, including the legal foundation and management of the case against General Masemola and other senior police officials.
General Masemola is facing charges for allegedly breaching the Public Finance Management Act, a case that is currently pending in the courts.
Commenting on IDAC’s questionable tactics, union spokesperson Lesiba Thobakgale stated, “The recent developments have reinforced SAPU’s apprehensions that General Masemola may have been subjected to unfair treatment.”
“President Cyril Ramaphosa must put a stop to the turmoil at SAPS and reinstate stability before it’s too late.”
SAPU also called upon the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Advocate Andy Mothibe, to provide clarity concerning the process of the charges against General Masemola.
Moreover, the police union urged NDPP Advocate Mothibe to urgently update the status of the charges against General Masemola.
“The nation deserves transparency: Are the charges being dropped, or will they continue?” Thobakgale questioned.
Following the revelation of IDAC’s dubious activities at the commission, charges of fraud and corruption against several other senior police officers were dropped prior to any pleas.
Up to this point, Advocate Andy Mothibe has retracted charges against various senior police officials, including:
- Lieutenant‑General Dumisani Khumalo (head of Crime Intelligence)
- Brigadier Dineo Mokwele
- Major‑General Nozipho Madondo
- Major‑General Philani Lushaba
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