Fannie Masemola: South Africa’s police boss to appear in court over Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala deal

The allegations of how Matlala getting the contract were made at an inquiry set up by Ramaphosa to look into corruption in the police force.

The Madlanga Commission was established after a senior police officer claimed criminal gangs had infiltrated the government – an accusation that led to the sacking of the country’s police minister.

Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said the national commissioner “has taken note of the charges brought against him and he has pledged his full cooperation with all lawful processes”.

South Africa’s prosecuting authority (NPA) said that Masemola had been served with the summons on Wednesday morning.

“We cannot divulge the charges until they are presented to him,” said NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.

Ramaphosa said he noted the news about Masemola, as well as the 12 senior officers charged over the contract.

His spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the president, “working together with the minister of police, is committed to ensuring that the [force] remains stable and able to continue fulfilling its policing mandate”.

Jackie Selebi was the first police chief to be charged while in office. The country’s longest-serving police boss was in 2010 sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of taking bribes from an Italian drug lord, Glen Agliotti, in exchange for turning a blind eye to his criminal activity.

Khomotso Phahlane followed suit in 2017, when he was charged with corruption. Those charges were withdrawn in 2018 but he was again arrested on similar charges in 2019, which he denies. The case is still in court.