THE news of the summoning of the National Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola, caused a lot of confusion as his colleagues who were in front of him in this position left and retreated, before the end of their contracts.
Among the commissioners who left within their term, are the former Minister of Police, Mr. Bheki Cele, and the one who was convicted of corruption charges, Mr. Jackie Selebi, Mrs. Riah Phiyega and General Khehla Sitole. All those commissions did not go well.
It seems that the present Commissioner of Police, Masemola, will also follow in the footsteps of the belter who was before him.
Masemola finds himself in trouble as he has just received a summons summoning him to court in connection with a case involving a tender of R360 million awarded to the company of a businessman facing a series of cases, Mr. Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Masemola stinks for failing to follow the principles governing the use of public money. The tender was also withdrawn after allegations of non-compliance with the terms when it was issued.
Masemola was charged along with 12 other police officers who appeared in court along with officials from Matlala’s company on Wednesday. A total of 16 appeared in court, including Matlala.
There are already indications that Masemola may be suspended from work and face an investigation.
The spokesperson for the Office of the President, Mr. Vincent Magwenya, said it will be difficult for Masemola to continue in office as he is going through the courts.
“We cannot have a police commissioner who is handling the case. We have to wait and see how the case goes in the courts. There are many things that the President will have to look at before making a decision.”
Magwenya said that President Cyril Ramaphosa said that he is still considering the issue of Masemola’s impeachment. He also said that Ramaphosa will deal with this matter in accordance with the law.
“In cooperation with the Minister of Police (Cachalia), Ramaphosa will ensure that the work of the police is not disrupted.”
Acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia, said Ramaphosa asked him to submit a report on the matter.
“I met with the President after the Cabinet meeting. He asked me to give him my report today (yesterday).”
Cachalia did not rule out the possibility of Masemola being suspended.
“In the end, a difficult decision will have to be taken, and Masemola will also have to be given the opportunity to answer for himself.”
Cachalia said that if Masemola is eventually suspended, a replacement will be appointed.
The second largest political party in the country, the DA, has already called for Masemola to be suspended.
DA police spokesperson, Ms Lisa Schickerling, said Masemola should not be arrested as well as the Deputy Commissioner of Police who is suspected of corruption, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya.
“This thing will make people no longer trust the police.”
The Chairman of the Parliamentary committee in charge of the Police, Mr. Ian Cameron, said that they want Masemola to explain before the committee about his charges.
Masemola was appointed to this position in 2022. If he is eventually suspended, a replacement will be appointed.
It is not known whether Ramaphosa will look to the Deputy Commissioner of Police or will look elsewhere if he appoints a successor.
AmaPhini kaKhomishana now; ngoLieutenant General Leneo Nkhuoa, Lieutenant General Hilda Senthumule and Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili.
History of past police commissioners in South Africa
– Jackie Selebi became the first black police commissioner. He was appointed to the position in 2000, suspended in 2008. Selebi was convicted of corruption in 2010, and was arrested for accepting bribes from a drug trafficker.
– Bheki Cele was appointed to the position in 2009, and was suspended in 2011, following allegations of corruption in the rental of a building that was to be used by the police. Cele was sacked in 2012, after an investigation. Cele had come to this position with enthusiasm, in fact he had built a reputation when he was the Minister of Public Safety in KwaZulu-Natal. After being sacked, Cele was appointed Deputy Minister in the Department of Fisheries and Forestry. He was even promoted in 2018, when he was appointed as the Minister of Police.
– Mrs. Riah Phiyega followed. Mrs. Phiyega was appointed in 2012. He was suspended from work in 2015, following the recommendations of the Commission investigating the killing of miners in the Marikana mine, who were shot by the police. After the suspension of Mrs. Phiyega, Mr. Khomotso Phahlane was appointed. Phahlane held this position for three years, then he was suspended after allegations of corruption. Phahlane was fired from the police in 2020 after an investigation.
– Before Masemola, the commissioner was General Khehla Sitole. Sitole was appointed to the position in 2017, his contract was terminated after he was convicted. He was convicted of obstructing the investigation of the police monitoring unit, Ipid, which was investigating allegations that the police bought a device to be used by spies to listen in on calls at the 2017 ANC conference. This machine was bought for R45 million. Many other talks followed Sitole during his tenure as police commissioner. What drove the final nail in his future, was that he was at odds with Cele who was the Minister of Police at the time, and his invisibility during the separatist riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in 2021.