Investigation reveals National Police Commissioner Masemola's questionable financial dealings
Image: Picture: Siyabulela Duda/GCIS
Following allegations that a warrant of arrest was issued against the police national commissioner, Fannie Masemola, it has been established that the country's police boss is living beyond his means.
During his media briefing on Thursday, EFF leader Julius Malema revealed that Masemola would be arrested for conspiring with Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, who was recently arrested for corruption and fraud.
An investigation revealed that Masemola spends more than he earns.
Masemola, who allegedly received kickbacks related to intelligence property deals, has the monthly installments of R68,388.00 while he earns R58,052.11.
His monthly salary is R129,996.87 and his deductions amount to R71,914.76.
This is according to an investigation by the founder of Forensics for Justice, Paul O'Sullivan, who also found that Masemola owns five properties.
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He owns one in Bloemfontein, two in Pretoria and the other two in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
The property in Bloemfontein is worth R380,000 and was purchased in 2016.
The properties in Pretoria are valued at R165,000 and R1,500,000, respectively.
The other one was purchased in 1996 and the other one in 2011.
The properties in Pietermaritzburg were bought in 2002 and 2005.
The other one is valued at R153,000 and the other one is R445,000.
The investigation also revealed that in 2019, Masemola took a personal loan amounting to R200,000.00 from Nedbank and was repaid within seven months.
Records indicate that in order to pay off that loan, he took another loan in the amount of R238,000.00.
'Back-to-back loans are generally seen as Red Flags. Subject (Masemola) is shown as being currently 9 months in arrears in revolving credit with Standard Bank. Enquiries should be made with the accounting services of the police to ascertain what debt has been incurred between the government and the subject, which results in substantial deductions from the subject's salary each month,' read the report.
Masemola did not respond to calls and messages regarding comments on the allegations.
National police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, said she cannot comment on Masemola's private affairs and his monthly expenditure.
'But it's a norm that every year, all government officials disclose their assets and other financial interests through the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) financial disclosure system,' she said.
DPSA spokesperson Moses Mushi said the financial disclosures made in terms of the Public Administration Management Act, 2014, by the National Commissioner: SAPS, fall within the category of a record held by a public body to which access could only be obtained in terms of PAIA, and in the absence of such a request in terms of PAIA, the sharing of such information will be contrary to the provisions of PAIA.
O'Sullivan said he even warned President Cyril Ramaphosa not to appoint Masemola as the national commissioner, saying he was unfit to hold the position.
Masemola was appointed in March 2022.
O'Sullivan said Masemola's appointment brought the country backwards to a point where he rendered the police service useless.
He previously alleged that Masemola and Khumalo received kickbacks from the property deals, which include a boutique hotel in Pretoria North, reportedly purchased for R22.7-million, and a commercial building in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, valued at R22.8-million.
Malema, on Thursday, said the recent briefing held by KZN police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who blew the whistle about infiltration within law enforcement, caused the postponement of Masemola's alleged arrest.
He also alluded to political interference in relation to this matter.
'I do not know why he is not being picked up. It means someone somewhere is playing politics, and they want to undermine, once more, the independence of our justice system,' Malema said.
'Masemola is being arrested for what he did with Khumalo in crime intelligence. He was supposed to be arrested that week when Mkhwanazi had a press conference.
'So, I thought that Mkhwanazi's briefing was a pre-emptive strategy, and perhaps the arrest of Masemola is delayed by that,' Malema said.
However, Mathe said the SAPS was not aware of any warrant of arrest against Masemola, adding that questions should be directed to Malema.
'He may be in a better position to respond with more information,' she said.
KZN police spokesperson, Robert Netshiunda, said Mkhwanazi is not responding to any issues pertaining to his press conference or related matters.
O'Sullivan, who previously also called for the suspension of both Masemola and Mkhanazi, said he was of the opinion that if there could be a warrant of arrest, it should be for both Masemola and Mkhwanazi, adding that they have both been engaged for a considerable time, in criminal activities, and actively support criminals themselves, to wit, the Five Generals and Two Brigadiers, that should have been dismissed already, but are continuing to commit crime whilst in the police.
manyane.manyane@inl.co.za
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