National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has been placed on precautionary suspension pending the conclusion of his criminal case.
This was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa at a media briefing on Thursday afternoon at the Union Buildings.
Masemola appeared in the dock at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
He faces four counts of contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) in relation to a R360 million tender and is accused of failing in his duty as a SAPS accounting officer.
The State has now added the top cop as a co-accused alongside Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and 12 other officers.
That matter will be back in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on 13 May 2026.
In the interim, Ramaphosa has appointed Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane as acting national police officer.
Dimpane currently serves as the Divisional Commissioner for Financial Management Services within the SAPS.
The President said a key priority for the acting commissioner would be to address weaknesses in the police service’s procurement systems, urgently.
“A key area of attention for the acting police commissioner and the police leadership as a whole is to urgently address weaknesses in the procurement system for goods and services in the police service.
“In the report of the Zondo Commission and the proceedings of the Madlanga Commission, procurement has been identified as a source of corruption, and also abuse of office and instability within the police service.”