Latest news with #ForensicsforJustice
IOL News
27-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Investigation reveals National Police Commissioner Masemola's questionable financial dealings
An investigation reveals that National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola lives beyond his means. 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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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 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.
IOL News
02-07-2025
- IOL News
Seven high-ranking South African police officers face suspension over corruption allegations
Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo and six colleagues appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court, where they applied for bail. Image: Screenshot Several high-ranking police officers, including the national head of crime intelligence, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, could face suspension if Forensics for Justice succeeds in court. Khumalo and the other six top cops – crime intelligence chief financial officer (CFO) Philani Lushaba, crime intelligence technical support system manager Brigadier Dineo Mokwele, Gauteng crime intelligence boss Major-General Josias Lekalakala, head of the analysis centre Major-General Nosipho Precious Madondo, Major-General Zwelithini Gabela of the police's technology services, and head of the vetting office Brigadier Phindile Ncube – all appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday. They were arrested by the Investigative Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC). Forensics for Justice and its founder Paul O'Sullivan has also been investigating the officers for corruption, nepotism, and abuse of office since last year. He has urged National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola to suspend the officers urgently. 'Our client is of the view that there is much public interest in the unacceptably high rate of crime in South Africa, especially when it is being perpetrated by five generals and two brigadiers, such as the accused persons,' O'Sullivan's lawyers, Darryl Furman and Associates, wrote to Masemola on Tuesday. The top cop was given until the end of business on Wednesday to suspend the officers, pending disciplinary action. O'Sullivan warned Masemola that if the officers are not suspended, he will prepare and launch an urgent high court application to obtain an order that the accused officers be suspended in the interests of the public. According to O'Sullivan, the police's crime intelligence has ceased to be an effective tool in the fight against crime in South Africa because, for the past 20 years, it has been led by criminals. 'The fact that the CFO of crime intelligence (Lushaba), who controls the budget of R600 million, is languishing in prison, awaiting trial, begs the question: 'Do his colleagues bring his laptop to him in prison so that he may effect electronic transfers?'' In his response, Masemola said he was aware of his constitutional duties in terms of the SA Police Service Act as well as the disciplinary regulations. 'It must be emphasised that this matter is receiving the necessary attention it deserves and it's a matter that involves the relationship between employer and employee in line with the Labour Relations Act as well as other relevant prescripts,' he explained. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu dismissed speculation that Masemola also faces imminent arrest. Mchunu's spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, said IDAC has also dismissed the speculation and warned it could destabilise the work of the police. The DA has indicated that it will undertake a watching brief on the matter. 'In February this year, the DA wrote to the Inspector General of Intelligence, Imtiaz Fazel, after it was uncovered that crime intelligence allegedly spent R22.8m on the purchase of a highly questionable commercial property in Berea, Durban, and R22.7m on a luxury boutique hotel in Pretoria North,' the party said.
