Ramaphosa reinstates Fannie Masemola as national police commissioner
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has reinstated National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola following the withdrawal of corruption charges against him. Masemola had been on precautionary suspension since April 2026 due to a tender-related investigation.
Why it matters
The reinstatement restores leadership to the national police force after a period of instability and legal uncertainty regarding the commissioner's conduct.
General Fannie Masemola resumes his duties as the national police commissioner from Monday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has reinstated the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola .
Ramaphosa announced on Friday that Masemola will resume his full duties on Monday, October 19.
Ramaphosa and Masemola had agreed that the National Commissioner be deemed to be on precautionary suspension in April 2026, following the commissioner’s appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court to face charges of contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) linked to a R360 million SAPS health-services tender awarded to Medicare24.
At the time, Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane (SAPS Chief Financial Officer) was appointed as the acting National Police Commissioner during Masemola's suspension.
The National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Advocate Andy Mothibi, ordered the charges to be withdrawn against Masemola last month after a review found no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution.
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