NPA withdraws charges against police commissioner Fannie Masemola

The National Prosecuting Authority has withdrawn all four charges against suspended National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola.

Prosecutors withdrew the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) charges in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 22 September.

The decision follows a review of the evidence against Masemola, who faced charges linked to the controversial R360 million SAPS healthcare contract awarded to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company.

NPA finds no reasonable prospect of conviction

The NPA instructed prosecutors to withdraw the charges after finding no reasonable prospect of securing a successful prosecution.

Masemola faced accusations that he failed to exercise adequate oversight as the SAPS accounting officer when police awarded the contract to Medicare24 Tshwane District.

The contract aimed to provide healthcare and wellness services to SAPS members.

The State accused Masemola of failing to prevent irregular expenditure and enforce proper financial controls during the procurement process.

He denied wrongdoing from the outset and insisted that he had not acted corruptly.

Masemola suspended after court appearance

Masemola first appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court in April after prosecutors added him to the case involving Matlala, several senior police officers and company directors.

President Cyril Ramaphosa placed him on precautionary suspension two days after his first court appearance.

Ramaphosa said at the time that the seriousness of the charges and Masemola’s position as the country’s top police officer required the government to act.

He appointed Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane as acting National Police Commissioner.

The withdrawal of the charges now places Masemola’s future at the head of the SAPS firmly in the spotlight.

While the NPA’s decision removes him from the criminal case, it does not automatically lift his precautionary suspension. The Presidency must decide whether he will return to office.

Case against Matlala and other accused continues

The criminal case against Matlala and the remaining accused continues.

They face charges including fraud, corruption and money laundering linked to the SAPS contract.

Police cancelled the contract after concerns emerged about the procurement process and the company that secured it.

Masemola’s legal team previously challenged the case against him and questioned whether prosecutors had enough evidence to justify charging him.

The NPA’s latest decision brings the criminal proceedings against Masemola to an end unless prosecutors obtain new evidence and decide to reinstate the charges.