Fannie Masemola
Fannie Masemola is a South African police general who has served as national commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) since March 2022, reinstated by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October 2026. He joined the police force in 1987 and rose through many senior roles over his career. In April 2026 Ramaphosa placed him on precautionary suspension after he appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on four counts of contravening the Public Finance Management Act, relating to his role as SAPS accounting officer over a police health services contract worth about R228-million (reported elsewhere as R360-million) awarded to Medicare24, a company linked to businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala. During his suspension, Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane served as acting national commissioner. The allegations against Masemola became a focal point of the Madlanga Commission, which is probing criminal infiltration of South Africa's law-enforcement and criminal justice system. The National Prosecuting Authority withdrew the charges in September 2026, and the Pretoria court formally dropped the case, after which Ramaphosa reinstated him with effect from October 2026. His case drew public comment from political parties, civil society groups and the Public Servants Association on questions of accountability, oversight and leadership stability within SAPS.
Fannie Masemola Updates
Daily Podcast – October 16, 2026
16th October 2026 Making headlines: Ramaphosa reinstates suspended police chief; ANC calls for mobilisation, unity following landmark ConCourt ruling; And,... →
Ramaphosa reinstates suspended police chief 
By: Reuters 16th October 2026 South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday he was reinstating the country's police chief, six months after he was suspended over... →
PSA welcomes withdrawal of charges against SAPS National Commissioner
18th September 2026 The Public Servants Association (PSA) noted the formal withdrawal of corruption charges against suspended National Police Commissioner, General... →
Dismissal of Feroz Khan must be the first of many
3rd September 2026 The dismissal of Major General Feroz Khan from the South African Police Service must be the first of many, until all of the crooked cops are... →
With SAPS under scrutiny, what should SA interim police chief prioritise?
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 7th May 2026 Puleng Dimpane may only have a short time available, but she can still do things that strengthen the South African Police Service. On 23 April,... →
Daily Podcast – April 24, 2026
By: Thabi Shomolekae 24th April 2026 Making headlines: Opposition parties slams leadership instability following SAPS Commissioner’s suspension; Ramaphosa warns global inequality... →
Fannie Masemola: Holding accounting officers responsible for looting in their departments is long overdue
24th April 2026 The case of suspended Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has prompted some people to argue that, because he is not alleged to have personally... →
ActionSA Notes Decision by President Ramaphosa to Suspend National Police Commissioner
24th April 2026 ActionSA notes the decision by Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola. Sadly, today marks another... →
Masemola on precautionary suspension: Commissioner follows in footsteps of long list of failed predecessors – AfriForum
24th April 2026 General Fannie Masemola’s precautionary suspension as National Commissioner of Police today is, according to civil rights organisation AfriForum,... →
DA welcomes Masemola suspension
24th April 2026 The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the suspension of National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and the appointment of an Acting... →
