National police commissioner Fannie Masemola has pleaded ignorance regarding reported allegations that he received a luxury bag from a supplier to the SAPS and did not declare the gift.
Masemola, who was appointed national police chief in April, yesterday told Sowetan he has been sick since returning from a trip to India on October 23 after attending the19th Interpol General Assembly there.
“I am only returning to work tomorrow," he said. “I am not aware of the investigations.”
When asked what he made of the allegations contained in weekend reports, he said: “You must ask those who are doing the investigations.”
Over the weekend, Sunday World reported that the NPA’s Investigating Directorate is probing Masemola for allegedly receiving a Louis Vuitton bag from a service provider while on an international trip.
According to the publication, Masemola and KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi are accused of failing to declare the popular bags that they allegedly received.
The two allegedly received the bags when they attended an exhibition with Inbanathan Kistiah, owner of Brainwave, which received a tender for 200 hi-tech vests for ballistic testing in 2016.
Sunday Times reported that the vests were bought for R33 402 each while locally they cost between
R6 000 and R8 000.
In September, Kistiah was arrested with former acting national commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane in connection with a R54m tender which was awarded to his company.
The allegations against Masemola are understood to be part of an ongoing feud in the police’s top management.
Masemola replaced Gen Khehla Sitole, whose contract was terminated in February after allegations that he had taken sides against the ANC faction led by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the previous ANC electoral conference.
The national police commissioner has, over most of the democratic era, proven itself to be a poisoned chalice, with only one – George Fivaz – finishing his term of office.
Police minister Bheki Cele’s spokesperson, Lirandzu Themba, said the ministry had “noted” the report but would not be commenting on it. She declined to say why, insisting that they would not be making any comments.
Institute for Security Studies researcher Gareth Newham said infighting among the police’s top brass continues to hamper the fight against crime.
“It’s one of the key reasons for the huge increases in murder, armed robberies and organised crime since 2012. Despite an increase of 67% in the SAPS budget since then, their ability to solve murders has dropped by 51%, robberies by 30% and all forms of violent crimes by over 22%. The failure to address the SAPS leadership crises has substantially reduced public safety in SA,” said Newham.
Newham said successive governments had failed to implement the recommendations of the National Development Plan and other commissions and panels of inquiry into policing aimed at addressing the serial crises of top leadership in the SAPS.
“There can be no improvements in policing until the president bites the bullet and completely rejuvenates the senior management structure of the SAPS,” said Newham.
Suspended deputy police commissioner Francinah Vuma, who is understood to have brought the allegations to the Investigate Directorate’s attention, has a longstanding feud with Masemola.
Masemola suspended Vuma and two other senior officials for allegedly being involved in the irregular awarding of a multi-million rand personal protective equipment contract.
Last month she launched a labour court application seeking to block Masemola, Ramaphosa and Cele from re-suspending her after the disciplinary action against her could not be concluded within the 60 days of her initial suspension.
Vuma was expected to return to work on October 6 when her initial suspension period lapsed but Masemola re-suspended her.
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