Police chief Fannie Masemola suspended as President Cyril Ramaphosa faces pressure to tackle corruption ahead of polls.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Published On 23 Apr 2026<\/span>23 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended the national police chief after he was charged with breaking finance laws over the awarding of a healthcare contract.<\/p>\n National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola was suspended on Thursday in the latest scandal to hit South Africa\u2019s police force. Ramaphosa is under increasing pressure to stamp out corruption before voting in local elections begins in November.<\/p>\n list of 3 items<\/span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n The police minister, national commissioner and his deputy have all now been suspended or placed on leave in a rare concentration of upheaval at the top of the force.<\/p>\n Masemola is accused of flouting procurement laws in the awarding of a 360-million-rand ($21.7m) police tender for health services to the company Medicare24. The firm is run by businessman Vusimuzi \u201cCat\u201d Matlala, who is suspected of links to organised crime. The contract has since been cancelled.<\/p>\n Prosecutors alleged Medicare24 colluded with police officials to secure the tender to provide health services to the police. Matlala received payments of a little more than 50 million rand ($3.03m) before the contract was cancelled.<\/p>\n Masemola briefly appeared in court on Tuesday to face four counts of violating the Public Finance Act, but the case was postponed to May 13. He has denied the accusations.<\/p>\n \u201cIn consideration of the seriousness of these charges and the critical role that the national commissioner of police plays, \u2026 I have agreed with General Masemola that he be deemed to be on precautionary suspension pending the conclusion of the case,\u201d Ramaphosa told journalists.<\/p>\n The police\u2019s chief financial officer, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, will serve as acting commissioner, Ramaphosa said, describing her as having a \u201creputation for professionalism and integrity\u201d.<\/p>\n Masemola\u2019s suspension follows wide-ranging allegations of corruption in the criminal justice system that were revealed by a commission of inquiry appointed by Ramaphosa last year.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Headshot-1-1706763439.jpg?resize=96%2C96&quality=80)
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