It has been exactly a year since KZN Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi delivered an explosive media briefing exposing political interference, corruption within the SAPS, as well as the alleged capture of South Africa’s criminal justice system by drug cartels.
Among the developments since then are the following:
Probes
President Cyril Ramaphosa established a commission of inquiry, which has become known as the Madlanga Commission, named after its chairperson, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
Parliament is also investigating the allegations. To this end, it has established a multi-party ad hoc committee with the power to subpoena witnesses.
Suspensions
The President placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave and appointed veteran politician Firoz Cachalia as Acting Police Minister.
According to Mkhwanazi, Mchunu was acting at the behest of a cartel when he attempted to disband the Political Killings Task Team, which several suspected underworld figures had complained about. Mchunu has denied any wrongdoing, and his testimony before the Madlanga Commission has yet to be concluded.
National Police Commissioner Gen. Fannie Masemola was suspended after being charged with allegedly failing to comply with the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act in the awarding of a R360 million SAPS tender to Medicare24, a company owned by alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who remains in custody facing charges including fraud, corruption and attempted murder.
Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Shadrack Sibiya was also suspended shortly after appearing before both the Madlanga Commission and the ad hoc committee. According to witness testimony presented at both inquiries, Sibiya is a central figure in the alleged capture of the police. While he has denied any wrongdoing, Sibiya has yet to convincingly rebut the serious allegations made against him and is now the subject of a wide-ranging criminal investigation.
Multiple senior officers, including Brig. Rachel Matjeng, have also been dismissed.
Tender Fraud Arrests
Twelve senior SAPS officials were arrested in connection with the controversial multi-million-rand tender awarded to Matlala.
Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, who has not been charged in connection with the Medicare24 tender, was arrested on charges including defeating the ends of justice after evidence suggested he used his position within the police to undermine criminal investigations, effectively enabling criminal cartels to stay one step ahead of investigators.
Corruption Extends Beyond the Police
The various investigations have exposed widespread corruption and other serious crimes allegedly committed by officers and officials of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), including murder and robbery.
At least two suspects have been arrested from a group of six implicated in the forceful, warrantless seizure of an estimated R14.9 million worth of precious stones and metals. The suspects include members of the EMPD and a civilian, with further arrests expected.