Ghost workers suspected in Saps
Parliament has demanded an immediate audit of suspected ghost employees within the South African Police Service (Saps) Crime Intelligence Division after seven senior officials were arrested on corruption charges between June and July 2025.
Jan Naudè de Villiers, chairperson of the portfolio committee on public service and administration, recently submitted a formal request to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, calling for an independent investigation into payroll fraud and the possible existence of non-existent workers drawing salaries from Saps.
The parliamentary intervention follows the arrest of high-ranking officials who appeared before the Pretoria Regional Court on fraud and corruption charges related to appointing an unqualified civilian to a senior position.
Saps mass arrests target financial oversight officials
De Villiers stated that between June and July 2025, authorities arrested seven senior Crime Intelligence officials responsible for financial oversight, personnel management, and internal controls.
According to the chairperson, the arrested officials include Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, the Divisional Commissioner, and Major General Philani Lushaba, who served as chief financial officer.
Additionally, others arrested were Major General Josias Lekalakala, the Gauteng Crime Intelligence head, Major General Nosipho Madondo, head of Analysis Centre, and Maj-Gen Zwelithini Gabela from Technology Services.
Two brigadiers, Dineo Mokwele from Technical Systems and Phindile Ncube, head of Vetting, were also taken into custody.
ALSO READ: Mkhwanazi vs Mchunu: 5 things you need to know about their explosive feud
Ghost workers raise Saps systemic fraud concerns
De Villiers indicated the arrests have exposed potential widespread corruption within crime intelligence.
The particular concern is about ghost workers, which de Villiers described as fictitious employees who fraudulently receive salaries and benefits from the Saps payroll system.
These phantom workers represent a sophisticated form of payroll fraud that may have been operating within the division for an extended period.
The parliamentary chairperson specifically highlighted concerns about the Secret Services Account, a classified budget line designated for covert operations and informant payments.
According to parliament, the account has historically been identified as vulnerable to abuse, and many of the arrested officials had direct responsibility for managing these funds.
'It is reasonable to expect similar malpractice in payroll management… the possibility of irregular appointments, inflated headcounts and unvetted recruits of 'ghost' employees is high,' de Villiers stated in his formal request.
ALSO READ: KZN's Mkhwanazi makes damning claims about Mchunu, senior police officials
Comprehensive audit of ghost employees demanded
The formal request calls for coordination between the National Treasury and the Public Service Commission to conduct a comprehensive audit of the Crime Intelligence division within 90 days.
The audit must verify actual headcounts against personnel physically deployed and examine all Secret Service Account payments, including informant lists and payment records.
This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts by the Minister of Finance and the Department of Public Service and Administration to identify and eliminate ghost employees across the public service sector.
Organised criminal networks
De Villiers emphasised that ghost-worker fraud extends beyond isolated incidents, describing it as sophisticated criminal activity.
'It takes sophisticated collusion to create and maintain these ghost-worker employees, who operate like organised criminal syndicates embedded in our government systems,' he explained.
The chairperson expressed confidence that under Minister Mchunu's leadership, Saps could use this situation as an opportunity to demonstrate accountability and root out embedded corruption while reclaiming public funds for legitimate intelligence and public safety services.
Public trust at stake
De Villiers characterised the urgent audit as essential not only for financial accountability, but also for restoring public confidence in Crime Intelligence operations.
The investigation aims to ensure that South Africa's intelligence-led policing is supported by a credible, ethical, and fully functional institution.
'We trust that under Minister Mchunu's leadership, Saps will use this opportunity to lead by example – rooting out embedded corruption and reclaiming public funds for real intelligence and public safety services,' de Villiers concluded.
READ NEXT: 'We don't want him to be a pop star': Allegations by KZN police commissioner Mkhwanazi sparks uproar
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Chrissiesmeer police recover 14 stolen sheep
The Chrissiesmeer SAPS recovered 14 sheep that were reportedly stolen from a farm in the town on Saturday, July 19. The Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, said they is still looking for the suspects. According to the report, the complainant regularly visits the grazing camp to count his livestock. However, on Saturday, he realised some were missing and contacted the police immediately. 'When the police arrived at the scene, they found that the fence had been cut. Further investigations led them to Warbutorn, which is about 25km from the farm,' Ndubane said. There, they found 14 sheep tied up. ALSO READ: Men sell dead monkeys on KaNyamazane Road The estimated value of the livestock is R35 000. 'The suspects are still at large, but the police handed the animals over to the owner. We are currently in pursuit of the suspects,' Ndubane said. ALSO READ: Dludluma road to facilitate economic opportunities for community Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Detective Captain Aziz Phiri on 082 556 5861. Alternatively, members of the public can call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or send information via My SAPS app. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
City Power arrests 7 in major crackdown on copper theft and infrastructure sabotage
City Power (CP) confirmed the arrests of seven suspects over the past week, including three employees apprehended on Mandela Day. These arrests in Reuven and Lenasia were part of broader efforts to dismantle internal corruption, sabotage and theft threatening the city's electricity network. The most alarming development occurred in the early hours of July 18, when a trade assistant, cleaner and an Expanded Public Works Programme worker were intercepted while trying to exit CP's Reuven service delivery centre (SDC) with about 840 pieces of suspected stolen copper pipes. These goods, with a street value of over R200 000, were concealed in boxes inside a company vehicle. CP security officers detected the theft during a routine checkpoint inspection. The SAPS was immediately alerted and took the suspects into custody on site. All three now face criminal charges. 'It is disturbing and disappointing to find some of our staff allegedly involved in the theft of public infrastructure. These are people entrusted with safeguarding our network, yet they've betrayed that responsibility. We will pursue disciplinary action without fear or favour,' said CP CEO Tshifularo Mashava. These arrests came just days after a separate high-stakes operation in Denver, where CP security personnel, the SAPS, the JMPD and private partners came under fire during a shootout with suspected infrastructure vandals. On the night of July 13, at 23:20, security teams responded to suspicious activity on 485 Main Reef Road, Denver. Upon arrival, officers encountered criminals actively digging a 35m trench, believed to be part of a cable theft or sabotage operation. The criminals opened fire, leading to an exchange of gunfire under the cover of darkness. Fortunately, there were no injuries. A swift and co-ordinated response led to the arrest of three people, aged between 21 and 23, at the scene/ They face charges including housebreaking, malicious damage to property and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. 'The shootout in Denver underscores the dangerous and organised nature of these crimes. We are dealing with syndicates that are armed and unafraid to confront law enforcement. We commend the bravery of our teams and partners, and we will not relent in the fight to protect Johannesburg's electricity infrastructure,' added Mashava. These arrests form part of an ongoing internal clean-up campaign launched by CP in March. To date, 15 staff are undergoing disciplinary action, many of them linked to fraud, collusion with contractors and theft. Forty-seven disciplinary cases have been processed since March 2024, including multiple suspensions and one criminal prosecution. Those implicated include electricians, security officers, team leaders and senior managers. CP continues to urge employees, contractors and the public to come forward with any information about crimes targeting electricity infrastructure. All tip-offs are confidential. Call the call centre on 011 490 7900, toll-free on 0800 116 166, or via WhatsApp on 083 579 4497. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
7 hours ago
- IOL News
Firoz Cachalia's Stark Choices: Confront the SAPS Rot or Protect Ramaphosa's Interests
Hundreds marched in the streets of Durban on July 15, 2025 in support of KZN Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi, as a senior officer, would have been aware of the implications of bypassing his superiors. That he felt compelled to do so signals profound institutional dysfunction, says the writer. Clyde N.S. Ramalaine President Ramaphosa's controversial decision to place Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave and appoint Professor Firoz Cachalia as Acting Minister of Police, effective 1 August, has sparked turbulence within the upper echelons of the SAPS. Days later, National Police Commissioner General Fanny Masemola placed Lt. General Shadrack Sibiya, head of Crime Detection, on leave, prompting speculation that KZN Provincial Commissioner Lt. Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi may be next. These shifts ignited widespread political speculation and disjointed warnings that any move against Mkhwanazi could provoke resistance. While inflammatory rhetoric should not be condoned, it must be understood within the broader political volatility and a society that registers its displeasure with President Ramaphosa and his ANC party, which continues to disrespect South Africans. A key question emerges: Is there a connection between these rumblings and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni's recent reference to intelligence about a potential coup? Or is this mere coincidence? The timing evokes memories of July 2021, when the President warned of an insurrection, though no government buildings were stormed. That episode, shaped more by strategic narrative management than decisive institutional response, sets a precedent for today's rhetoric: instability wrapped in vague intelligence briefings, masking internal state dysfunction. Currently, Mchunu's leave and Cachalia's appointment are being challenged legally, as shown by a letter to the President from the MKP. Within this unstable terrain, Cachalia's response to Mkhwanazi's press conference on 6 July deserves closer scrutiny, not just for tone but for what it reveals about underlying tensions in the SAPS and the broader political ecosystem. Cachalia described Mkhwanazi's press conference as 'highly unusual.' The phrase, deliberately ambiguous, subtly chastises Mkhwanazi for bypassing internal channels without condemning him outright. This language allows Cachalia to tread carefully, projecting institutional respect while acknowledging the extraordinary nature of Mkhwanazi's public disclosure. This calculated framing reflects the posture Cachalia is likely to adopt as Acting Minister: one of procedural discipline blended with political pragmatism. It acknowledges the breach of protocol while hinting at possible justification, especially if formal channels were already compromised. Indeed, Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu and Sibiya of dismantling key investigative units, especially those probing political killings. He further revealed that CR17-aligned campaigner Brown Mogotsi appeared as an unsolicited intermediary, relaying directives via WhatsApp. Mogotsi's involvement, without formal designation, hints at a disturbing entanglement between informal actors and operational policing decisions. In such an environment, appeals to 'proper channels' lose credibility. Cachalia's follow-up remark that Mkhwanazi 'may have had no choice' to go public becomes telling. Carefully hedged, it nonetheless conveys implicit moral endorsement. It recognises that the normal institutional safeguards, meant to protect sensitive investigations, may have collapsed, thereby legitimising Mkhwanazi's extraordinary action. This subtle concession validates the general's ethical stance, reframing his public disclosure as an act of integrity, not insubordination. In this sense, Cachalia's wording becomes a cautious bridge, acknowledging both the breach and the rot that necessitated it. His balanced rhetoric signals an attempt to reassert authority without escalating internal dissent. Still, Mkhwanazi, as a senior officer, would have been aware of the implications of bypassing his superiors. That he felt compelled to do so signals profound institutional dysfunction. His press conference functioned as both revelation and protest: exposing that the mechanisms meant to uphold accountability had themselves become sites of compromise. Cachalia, a former anti-apartheid activist and seasoned legal mind, likely understands this. His statement that he would 'ask' Mkhwanazi about the press conference, rather than threaten disciplinary action, casts him more as an investigator than an enforcer. He appears intent on navigating complexity, not bulldozing through it. His appointment, though partially justified by his public service credentials, is also rooted in loyalty and political trust. As a Ramaphosa confidant, or "house friend" in ANC parlance, Cachalia's selection serves multiple functions: reassurance, political insulation, and the projection of reform-minded oversight. His identity, outside the ANC's dominant patronage patterns, also helps Ramaphosa symbolically reframe the narrative of leadership. Cachalia disclosed that the President called him only an hour before the appointment was announced, beginning with an apology for not yet attending a NACAC meeting, a body Cachalia chairs. This suggests that his appointment may have been reactive or a calculated response to criticism of Ramaphosa's disengagement from anti-corruption structures. The fact that NACAC's 2023 report on policing, like the Prof. Sandy Africa report on the July 2021 unrest, has not been implemented, casts Cachalia's new role in a politically instrumental light. Thus, Cachalia's elevation may serve several functions: as a gesture toward overdue reform, as insulation against fallout, and as a trusted figure to manage emerging crises within SAPS without exposing the President to deeper scrutiny. His presence buys time, stabilises perception, and ensures factional loyalty at a moment of deep political uncertainty. Ultimately, Mkhwanazi's public statement was a forced intervention into a system that had rendered internal reporting futile. His actions underscore a harsh truth: when mechanisms of accountability are themselves compromised, public disclosure may be the only ethical recourse. Expecting officers to quietly comply under such conditions would mean sanctioning silence in the face of corruption. Cachalia's language, at once ambiguous and revealing, walks a delicate line. It neither fully supports nor condemns Mkhwanazi but signals a deeper institutional malaise. His phrase 'he may have had no choice' speaks volumes. The scandal, in his framing, is not Mkhwanazi's boldness, but the political interference he was compelled to expose. The real question is not whether Mkhwanazi broke ranks, but whether Cachalia, if confirmed and at the helm, will confront the rot or simply manage its optics to protect Ramaphosa's interest. * Clyde N.S. Ramalaine is a theologian, political analyst, lifelong social and economic justice activist, published author, poet, and freelance writer. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
