Top cop lifts lid on plan to remove him

POLICE Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has told of criminal cartels working tirelessly behind the scenes to undermine his authority and push for his removal.

He made the remarks on Thursday when he appeared before Parliament’s Ad Hoc committee probing allegations made by KZN commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi at a press briefing on July 6.

The allegations include attempts to infiltrate parts of the country’s criminal justice system and that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had links with criminal syndicates that used their proximity to him to have the political killings task team disbanded. 

Addressing the MPs, Masemola expressed his wish to complete his term of office, a rarity for his predecessors who faced premature exits.

“You will find there will be criminal cartels that will go to little corners to connive and come with a case whether there is a case or not. The fact of the matter is that you have to be removed most importantly. That is the reality of the situation.”

Masemola was appointed in April 2022 and his term comes to an end in 2027.

Masemola said there would be parallel structures that would want to manipulate the national commissioner and if they can't, they will come with a plan to have him or her removed and replaced.

“From the day one has been appointed, there are those already working day and night to see how you can be removed,” he said.

Masemola also said one would not just be fighting crime but would be distracted.

“There would be many plans day and night concocted on how to get rid of you. If they can’t get what they want, they keep planning.”

He described those who would want a national commissioner removed as mostly external and some inside forces.

Asked about infiltration of SAPS and justice, crime prevention and security clusters as alleged by Mkhwanazi, Masemola said it was not everybody.

“It’s a small group of individuals or cartels. The whole purpose is to take control which of course we are not allowing to happen. We deal with the people who are sophisticated and know what they are doing.”

He also said it took time to know how those who do the infiltration play the system.

Asked about whether he was satisfied with proper procedures for vetting within SAPS, Masemola said they were doing their best.

He noted that the capacity of the Crime Intelligence to conduct vetting was increased but they were not yet at the right number.

“I can confirm that we are not at a stage where we are comfortable.”

However, Masemola said senior management staff submitted financial disclosures and were subjected to lifestyle audits.

“Where there are red lights we investigate, we identify risks.”

He said the Crime Intelligence does not have capacity to fully vet the whole police workforce.

While conceding that policing in the country was challenging, Masemola maintained it was not in a state of crisis.

Masemola told the inquiry that there were external challenges from society that were infiltrating the police.

“It is, indeed, matters that are worrying and should be rooted out.”

He said they are fixing the problem within the police.

"We do our best to fix them but we need the support of everyone – executive, parliament and society.”

However, Masemola said when trying to fix the problems in the police, they found people twisting the facts.

He also told the inquiry about efforts to fix problems within the Crime Intelligence and that during former Minister Bheki Cele’s term, they had a plan on how to fix it.

Masemola said he unfortunately never had an opportunity to brief Police Minister Senzo Mchunu under the new administration.

When asked if there were problems within the upper echelons of the SAPS, Masemola confirmed this but said they were not yet beyond resolution.

“They can be resolved.”

Cape Times