The South African Policing Union (SAPU) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to move swiftly to reinstate suspended National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola after charges against him were officially withdrawn on Tuesday.
The Pretoria Magistrates’ Court officially cleared Masemola of charges under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) that had led to his precautionary suspension earlier this year. The case was related to a controversial R360 million SAPS Medicare24 tender linked to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) dropped the charges after concluding that there was insufficient evidence to justify a prosecution.
Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, SAPU national spokesperson Lesiba Thobakgale said the President must consider the matter urgently, as Masemola’s suspension had left a vacuum in the leadership of the police.
“It’s a matter of urgency. One can say General Masemola must be reinstated with immediate effect.
We are hopeful that’s what the President will do, act decisively on this matter, like the time when he placed him on suspension, saying that it’s because of a cloud hanging over his head.
Today, that cloud was lifted off his head officially and lawfully, so our expectation is that the President should not waste any more time. He must ensure Masemola is reinstated soon,” said Thobakgale.
Thobakgale maintained that those responsible for what he described as ‘trumped-up’ charges against Masemola must be held accountable.
“We are not aloof from the fact that the image of the General has been tarnished by these frivolous charges preferred against him, which landed him in court, and that’s why we are further calling for accountability.
We are, however, comforted by the fact that there are ongoing internal processes within IDAC which will deal with whoever was responsible for this.
But in the SAPS also, there are those who connived against the General to land him in court. We believe he must act decisively against them to make sure that accountability is done,” elaborated Thobakgale.
SAPU is of the view that Masemola’s reinstatement before the upcoming local government elections in November would restore stability within the SAPS.
“The SAPS underwent concerning leadership turmoil, especially since Masemola was suspended, but furthermore, we need that stability back, especially as we are headed to the municipal elections in a few months.
His immediate reinstatement will ensure that he is part of the preparations towards those elections and take charge of the command and control of his forces within SAPS,” explained the spokesperson.
Meanwhile, SAPU has expressed concern over the arrest and court appearance of Deputy National Police Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya.
The 59-year-old is facing charges of allegedly raping an 18-year-old woman at a hotel in Sandton in May, as well as the sexual grooming of a 16-year-old girl and human trafficking.
The case against Sibiya was postponed by the Randburg Magistrates’ Court to 29 September for a bail application. He was remanded in custody at the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria.
