Ramaphosa Suspends SAPS Commissioner Masemola After Court Charges Over R228 Million Medicare 24 Contract Linked to Alleged Crime Figure
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday placed National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola on precautionary suspension after his appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act, tied to the awarding of a R228 million contract to Medicare 24 — a firm linked to alleged criminal mastermind Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala. SAPS finance-division head Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane was appointed acting commissioner the same afternoon.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday, April 23, 2026, placed National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola on precautionary suspension following Masemola's court appearance earlier this week on charges of contravening South Africa's Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). The announcement was made at a Union Buildings media briefing alongside Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia. The Presidency also named Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane, SAPS Divisional Commissioner for Financial Management Services, as the Acting National Commissioner.
What changed
The PFMA charges stem from the awarding of a R228 million contract to Medicare 24, a company that South African authorities have linked to Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, who the Presidency described in its briefing as an "alleged criminal mastermind." The contract has been cancelled and is subject to a separate criminal investigation. Masemola has denied the charges.
In his statement, Ramaphosa framed the suspension as mandatory under the circumstances: "In consideration of the seriousness of these charges and the critical role of the National Commissioner in leading the fight against crime, I have agreed with General Masemola that he be deemed to be on precautionary suspension pending the conclusion of the case."
Who replaces him
Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane, until Thursday the SAPS Divisional Commissioner for Financial Management Services, becomes acting National Commissioner. Ramaphosa cited Dimpane's two decades in policing, strategic management and governance, and a "reputation for professionalism and integrity." The acting commissioner's brief, according to the Presidency, is to "urgently address weaknesses in the procurement of goods and services" — procurement having been identified by both the Zondo Commission and the ongoing Madlanga Commission as "the source of corruption, abuse of office and instability within the police service."
The wider context
The suspension lands in the middle of Ramaphosa's effort to follow through on commitments made in the 2026 State of the Nation Address to "step up the fight against organised crime, corruption and violence." Ramaphosa noted the Madlanga Commission's interim report has already produced arrests of twelve senior police officers on procurement-related matters, and the Presidency cited the task team investigating Madlanga Commission findings as having "made significant progress."