Pressure mounts on Ramaphosa to reinstate Masemola - IOL

National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola remains suspended after charges against him were withdrawn.

The South African Police Union (SAPU) has repeated its call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately reinstate suspended National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, amid rampant crime in the country. 

Masemola was arrested and charged over the alleged irregular awarding of a major police health-services contract. The case centred on a contract valued at R360 million that was allegedly awarded to Medicare24, a company owned by businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

He was arrested for the alleged violation of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).

National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Advocate Andy Mothibi, instructed that charges against Masemola be withdrawn, following a review that found no reasonable prospects of success in pursuing the case. The charges were officially withdrawn last Tuesday at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court. 

During a weekend church visit in Gauteng, Ramaphosa said the matter concerning Masemola is under consideration.

“The NPA's decision has been noted, and the matter is under consideration. Have the patience to wait for an outcome,” Ramaphosa said. 

When charges against him were dropped, Masemola said he was eager to return to work and serve the country. However, he acknowledged that he had to wait for his employer, indicating he had not yet consulted with Ramaphosa. 

SAPU deputy national spokesperson Jabu Mabena said the union is disappointed and shocked that Ramaphosa is still considering Masemola’s reinstatement rather than reinstating him immediately, now that charges have been withdrawn.

“SAPU wishes to call upon the president to reinstate General Masemola now. The NDPP and the court have cleared General Masemola. Mr President will advocate to be a law-abiding citizen and respect our courts.

“Mr President, implement, to show that you respect the court’s decision and reinstate General Masemola,” Mabena said. 

He said SAPU urges Ramaphosa to reinstate Masemola immediately, arguing that leaving the police commissioner sidelined amid rampant crime (killings, gender-based violence and femicide, and other serious crime) fails to take the country’s safety seriously.

“The country needs answers, but the captain (Masemola) of the ship is still sitting at home with no apparent reason, and if the president takes South Africa seriously, he must do the right thing by reinstating Masemola today,” Mabena said. 

Institute for Security Studies security expert Willem Els suggested that Ramaphosa may be delaying Masemola’s reinstatement to verify whether any further charges are pending, ensuring a stable return to office.

“They don’t want to reinstate him, and then next week there are some new charges, and they have to suspend him again. If he’s being reinstated, he should be able to take the helm and also to finish his term,” Els explained. 

He highlighted that aside from George Fivaz (1994), no national police commissioner has finished their term since Jackie Selebi’s imprisonment — a cycle of instability that leaders are eager to break to restore trust and morale.

“He must be reinstated because, at the end of the day, he’s got a contract, and if he hasn’t violated any clause in that contract, then legally, he’s got a lot of ground to stand on to be reinstated,” Els said. 

In a statement, the South African Communist Party (SACP) called for Masemola’s immediate reinstatement so he can continue his work serving the people of South Africa.