The criminal summons served on the chief of police, Fannie Masemola, on Wednesday 25 March 2026 refers: (https://www.businessday.co.za/news/2026-03-25-presidency-may-appoint-acting-police-chief-amid-probe-into-fannie-masemola/.)

The general is not the first, and is most unlikely to be the last, senior member of SAPS to face criminal charges arising out of criminal wrongdoing, especially in relation to police tenders of the kind negotiated by the well-dressed but notorious “tenderpreneur”, Vusi Musi “Cat” Motlala. Although the contract in question, a R360 million deal for medical services for SAPS, has been cancelled, the malfeasance in the tender processes has not been addressed legally by the criminal justice administration until now.

The rot in the upper echelons of SAPS is widespread and deep according to the views of those who study SAPS. What to do about it, in a manner that exacts accountability and promotes responsiveness to the needs of the people of SA, is currently an open question. These are issues that were addressed in public by Associate Professor Irvin Kinnes of UCT at the conference held at CTICC last week. Participating in a panel discussion titled “the heavy cost of crime” in SA, the learned professor suggested that consideration be given to terminating the services of all the (far too many) generals in SAPS. Lt. Gen. Mhkwanazi himself has complained on oath in parliament that SAPS has far too many generals at present.

There is precedent for a “decapitation” move of this kind. The Goldstone Commission, appointed at the end of the old SA, recommended termination of the services of generals in the military who were resisting the dawn of democracy. About thirty of them were fired based on the recommendations so made.

Those SAPS generals who wish to be re-employed, those who do not have skeletons in their cupboards, ought to be given the opportunity of applying to be re-engaged by SAPS after they have their probity, integrity and honesty checked in lie detector tests and by way of other relevant metrics, including undergoing a lifestyle audit administered by the Auditor General. The costs involved can be borne by those generals who fail their tests or by the long-suffering taxpayer for those who emerge with their reputations intact. If he has nothing to hide, Masemola can consider taking the tests to avoid his apparently imminent suspension.

It may be comprehensively invidious and ill-advised to appoint an acting chief of police in the current circumstances within SAPS, given that both the Madlanga Commission and the parliamentary ad hoc committee have yet to report to the executive and legislature respectively.

Yours in accountability,

Paul Hoffman SC