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General Fannie Masemola’s precautionary suspension as National Commissioner of Police today is, according to civil rights organisation AfriForum, the shameful result of the long-standing systemic decline of the South African Police Service (SAPS). With this suspension, Masemola joins the ranks of many of his predecessors who were forced to leave office due to corruption, misconduct, fraud, and incompetence. General Puleng Dimpane has meanwhile been appointed as Acting National Commissioner of Police.

AfriForum welcomes the decisive action to place Masemola on precautionary suspension after he appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on four charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). The charges relate to an alleged irregular R360 million police tender.

Jacques Broodryk, Chief Spokesperson for Community Safety at AfriForum, says Masemola’s precautionary suspension is necessary considering the serious charges against him, but warns that the latest developments are destabilising the SAPS even further. “The decision will result in operational uncertainty and a further decline in the morale of police members and public confidence in the police service,” he explains.

“If the allegations against Masemola are true, he now finds himself in the same company as previous commissioners such as Jakie Selebi, Bheki Cele and Riah Phiyega, who caused unprecedented damage to the SAPS’s reputation. The appointment of strong, ethical leaders is now – amidst the current storms raging in the SAPS – even more critical than ever if South Africa truly wants to combat crime,” concludes Broodryk.

Issued by AfriForum