EFF leader Julius Malema claims National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola was supposed to have been arrested after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s explosive media briefing, but claims that police inaction was due to alleged political interference.

However, the police have denied Mamela’s claims that a warrant of arrest is pending against Masemola.

Masemola, through SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, denied knowledge of any warrant.

“SAPS is not aware of any warrant of arrest for General Masemola. Kindly redirect your questions to Mr. Malema, he may be in a better position to respond with more information,” Mathe said.

During a press conference on Thursday in Cape Town to mark the party’s 12th anniversary, Malema claimed that Masemola was supposed to be arrested.

“There is a warrant of arrest against Masemola. It’s out… I don’t know why it’s not being picked up. It means someone somewhere is playing politics and somehow they want to undermine once more the independence of our justice system,” Malema said.

He alleged that Masemola was supposed to have been arrested the same week KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi held an explosive media briefing.

“Masemola is being arrested for what he did with Khumalo in Crime Intelligence. Masemola was supposed to be arrested that week when Mkhwanazi had a press conference,” Malema said.

Lieutenant General Peter Khumalo, the head of Police Crime Intelligence, who, along with six colleagues, was arrested on June 26 in connection with serious allegations related to the unlawful appointment of senior personnel within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Khumalo has been charged alongside Major General Nosipho Precious Madondo, head of Intelligence Analysis and Coordination; Major General Josias Lekalaka, Gauteng provincial head of Crime Intelligence; Major General Zwelithini Gabela, head of Technical Management Services; Brigadier Phindile Ncube, section head of Personnel Security – Vetting; and Brigadier Dineo Mokwele.

They are facing charges related to the irregular appointment of Mokwele to the senior rank of brigadier within the Technical Support Services (TSS), allegedly without proper vetting.

According to the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), Khumalo and his co-accused acted in concert, bypassing critical vetting protocols essential for senior SAPS roles.

During an explosive press briefing, Mkhwanazi also implicated Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who has since been placed on leave. 

He accused Mchunu of interfering in police operations and shielding those implicated in misconduct.

Mkhwanazi further claimed that Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya conspired with information dealer Brown Mogotsi from North West and Mchunu to disband the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team.

He said the unit had 121 active dockets, many related to politically motivated killings, which were withdrawn after the unit’s dissolution in March.

Mkhwanazi presented WhatsApp messages, SAPS documents, and cellphone records to support his claims, adding that Mchunu had written to Masemola in December 2024, saying the task team had “outlived its usefulness.”

Malema insisted that Masemola should have been arrested alongside Khumalo, suggesting the timing of Mkhwanazi’s press conference may have delayed the process.

“I thought Mkhwanazi’s press conference was a preemptive strategy and perhaps the arrest for Masemola was delayed by that,” Malema said. 

“Once a warrant of arrest is issued, it means there is some sort of evidence of wrongdoing which must be tested at a court. So we will have to make sure that this is followed through.”

On June 27, IOL News reported that Khumalo and five co-accused appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court for a bail hearing. All but one were granted bail of R10,000.

Major General Philani Lushaba, the group’s chief financial officer, remains in custody due to a pending case that was not disclosed during his bail affidavit.

IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame confirmed the bail conditions, stating that the five accused were barred from entering any Crime Intelligence premises. 

He said the case forms part of IDAC’s broader mandate to investigate corruption and prevent state capture in government institutions.

The matter has been postponed to August 13.

IOL 

Source link