Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed South African Police Service National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola on precautionary suspension and appointed Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane as acting National Police Commissioner.
Ramaphosa made the announcement at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday, days after Masemola appeared in court on four counts linked to alleged violations of the Public Finance Management Act. Masemola is expected to appear again before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court in May.
“I have agreed with General Fannie Masemola that he should be placed on precautionary suspension,” Ramaphosa said. 
The president described Dimpane as a seasoned police professional who has served in the South African Police Service for close to two decades, with extensive experience in policing, strategic management, financial management and governance. She currently serves as the divisional commissioner for financial management services at SAPS.
“Lieutenant General Dimpane has a reputation for professionalism as well as for integrity. And what’s more pleasing, she is one of the key women who are in the leadership of our police service,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa said the decision was guided by the need to maintain public trust in law enforcement leadership, pointing to his commitment made in the State of the Nation Address to step up the fight against organised crime, corruption and violence.
He said a key priority for the acting commissioner would be addressing weaknesses in the police service’s procurement system, which the Zondo Commission and the Madlanga Commission have both identified as a source of corruption and instability.
Ramaphosa defended the government’s record on police reforms, saying commissions of inquiry had contributed significantly to rebuilding the service. He said nearly R16 billion had been recovered from state coffers as a result of the Zondo Commission’s work.
When pressed by journalists on why he had not acted sooner, Ramaphosa said he had waited for Masemola to formally appear in court before making a decision.
“It had nothing to do with IDAC or whatever. IDAC is an institution that is independent that takes decisions on whether to charge people or not and without any interference from my side or anyone who is in government,” he said.
On questions about the length of the legal process, Ramaphosa said he did not want it to drag on. “I do not want it to be an elongated process,” he said, adding that the Madlanga Commission was nearing the end of its work and would soon enable the government to take decisive steps in restructuring the police service.
Ramaphosa said he was confident that Dimpane and the acting Minister of Police Ferros Kachalia would provide effective leadership during this period. “I am confident that she has the qualities and the standing necessary to provide effective leadership to the South African Police Service during this challenging period,” he said.
He urged South Africans not to allow the development to weaken the country’s resolve to fight crime. “We should not allow anything to destabilize the police service or even undermine the morale of those entrusted to protect our people,” Ramaphosa said.
