South African police chief suspended over $20m health contract

Cyril Ramaphosa said the suspension was because of the critical role Fannie Masemola plays in fighting crime. Fannie Masemola: South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa suspends police chief Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Police boss Fannie Masemola will be suspended until the court process is concluded A head and shoulders image of Fannie Masemola in a police cap. His blue uniform's epaulets can be seen. South African police chief suspended over $20m health contract South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed the country's top policeman on "precautionary suspension" after he was charged in court on Tuesday. Gen Fannie Masemola, 62, is alleged to have failed in his oversight duties in connection with the awarding of a controversial $21m (£15.5m) health contract, which has become the subject of a criminal investigation and has since been cancelled. He has been charged with violating part of South Africa's Public Finance Management Act, which governs how taxpayers' money is spent. Masemola told journalists after Tuesday's hearing that he denied the charges. "I know that I'm not guilty, I'm not wrong, but the [law] must take its course," he said. He is the third South Africa police chief to face a criminal investigation while in office. Ramaphosa said he had decided to suspend the policeman because of the "seriousness of these charges and the critical role that the national commissioner of police plays in leading the fight against crime". Masemola will be suspended until the court case is concluded, he added. Ramaphosa, who has been under growing pressure to stamp out police corruption, stressed that it was vital for the law enforcement agencies to be "capable, ethical and effective" and that they have the confidence of the people of South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) said Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane (R) will be looking closely at police procurement processes Cyril Ramaphosa stands at a presidential podium flanked by two South African flags. Next to him, in a police uniform, is Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane. The president made the announcement during a press briefing in the capital, Pretoria, with Masemola's replacement, Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane, standing alongside him. She has been the police service's chief financial officer since 2018 and has been in the force for almost 20 years. But her appointment is already being questioned given she oversaw the police's finances during the period the alleged corruption took place. She has previously denied any involvement in corruption. Masemola's court case relates to a tender awarded to controversial businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's company Medicare24 Tshwane District in 2024, which was meant to provide health services to the police. It was cancelled a year later, in May 2025, and since then a dozen senior police officers have been formally charged over their role in the awarding of the contract. They have been accused of colluding with Matlala, who has also been charged with corruption. None of them have yet been asked to plead in court. Masemola, who was also not asked to enter a plea, is the only one who has not been charged with corruption. He faces four counts of breaching the public finances act. The allegations about the health contract tender came up at an inquiry, known as the Madlanga Commission, set up by Ramaphosa last September to look into corruption in the police force. Additional reporting by Khanyisile Ngcobo in Johannesburg Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is seen wearing military-like police uniform during a briefing Top policeman shakes South Africa with explosive allegations about his boss A composite of four head-and-shoulders photographs of Vusimusi Cat Matlala as he was giving evidence to the parliamentary inquiry showing him giving different hand gestures. An alleged drug cartel and a murdered witness: South Africa's police corruption probe A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Fannie Masemola is accused of failing in his duties to provide proper oversight in his role. Marius van der Merwe was shot dead three weeks after accusing police officers of killing a robbery suspect. 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