New top cop ‘protects’ corruption
The national commissioner allegedly buried a forensic report uncovering the shielding of an illegal mining syndicate in Mpumalanga
National police commissioner Fannie Masemola is allegedly “protecting” Mpumalanga head of police Semakaleng Manamela from allegations of corruption and abuse of power, including that she demanded gifts worth R2-million at welcoming parties.
The gifts Manamela was showered with included a R78410 TV stand, couches costing R60000 as well as R82332 worth of household appliances. In total, she was found to have “abused” more than R2.1-million of public funds on parties and gifts, a report says.
Manamela, whose tenure began in July last year, admitted to the Mail & Guardian that she had received the gifts.
Masemola was appointed national commissioner in March.
The forensic report dated May 2022, which the M&G has seen, recommended Manamela be investigated by the anti-corruption unit for “mandating” the disposal of coal “confiscated from illegal miners” in Mpumalanga.
According to the report, which was compiled for the national commissioner’s office, Manamela is allegedly shielding an illegal coal mining syndicate in Mpumalanga “by intending to transfer Brigadier [Lindani] Ndlovu from Vosman [police] station because he is seen as a threat in fighting illegal miners in the Vosman area”.
“Transferring him (Ndlovu) to Siyabuswa (and) disregarding his family amounts to an abuse of power,” reads the report.
Speaking on Manamela’s behalf, Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala defended Ndlovu’s transfer.
He said all South African Police Service members signed an oath of office agreeing that they “may be placed anywhere in the country in the interest of effective and efficient service delivery”.
Mohlala did not respond to questions about whether Manamela was protecting an illegal mining gang and if Ndlovu’s mooted transfer was intended to placate the syndicate.
The report detailed how Manamela appointed then-colonel John Madonsela as the province’s promotional posts chairperson so Manamela’s brother Charles Sono could be promoted, despite the fact that he has been facing “serious cases of corruption” since April 2020.
Sono’s promotion was effected in February,
when he was made the visible policing commander at Daggakraal police station, with the rank of warrant officer. Sono’s most recent court appearance was on 23 September.
Mohlala denied Manamela had anything to do with her brother’s promotion, saying the provincial commissioner did not sit on the panels that appointed and promoted officers.
Internal emails from the national commissioner’s office show that Masemola received the forensic report in May and, despite assurances that corruption accusations against Manamela were “receiving urgent attention”, allegedly buried the report and protected her from disciplinary action.
The investigation into Manamela was conducted by an external company The ifirm and commissioned after a whistleblower gave information about the Mpumalanga commissioner’s alleged malfeasance.
The report found, following her appointment in July last year, Manamela had “demanded” Mpumalanga’s three police districts each organise a “welcoming party” for her, with the events noted as social outreach programmes.
“The welcoming party was to be disguised under a recognised special event whereby [Manamela] would be invited as a guest and gifts were to be given to her. The source of funding these events would be the station’s teaclubs,” the report stated.
Individual stations get “tea-club” budgets mainly for providing food and beverages for arrested suspects at police holding cells.
At one district event, the forensic probe said, Manamela was given a R35 000 furniture-shop
voucher which she reportedly asked to be converted to cash because “she has no space for furniture any more”.
“The last welcoming party was organised by [Manamela’s] office in the form of a gala dinner at The Ridge Hotel, Emalahleni. In preparation for this, the stations had to donate funds under special events of gender-based violence in Tonga and the launch of traditional policing in Calcutta.
“It was established that the total amount collected was R1.7-million,” the probe found, adding Manamela purportedly received a R150 000 gift voucher at the gala dinner.
Spokesperson Mohlala acknowledged that events were held in August and September last year and in March at which Manamela received gifts. He said the events were intended to “motivate and empower women after the Covid-19 pandemic”, revive a “men and women for change network”, as well as to celebrate Heritage Month and fight domestic violence.
“At all these events, tokens of appreciation were handed to the [guest speakers], including the provincial commissioner as a guest.
“All the tokens of appreciation or gifts, which the provincial commissioner has received, were registered and declared on the gift register. At no stage did the provincial commissioner instruct anyone to hold a welcoming event for her,” Mohlala said.
Three sources close to the Manamela investigation said national commissioner Masemola refused, despite repeated requests, to initiate provisions of the South African Police Service Act, which allow him to suspend Manamela while she was being investigated.
The M&G has seen communications from Masemola’s office, where requests were made that he deal with the allegations of corruption in order to protect the service’s image.
Masemola, according to the internal notes, ignored the requests.
This is in contrast to his suspension of deputy national commissioner Francinah Vuma, who, prior to the move in July, had alleged the national commissioner was targeting her for the corruption investigations she had initiated against Police Minister Bheki Cele.
Vuma made those allegations in a disclosure to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe acknowledged that Masemola was aware of the allegations against Manamela, and said the national commissioner was giving the “necessary attention” to the matter.
“While the SAPS does not comment on internal matters, it is important to emphasise that the SAPS has internal policies, processes and systems in place that guide the recruitment, selection and appointment of members,” Mathe said.
“In the event of suspected irregularities, everyone (the public or SAPS members) is urged to report so that the irregularity can be investigated and appropriate action taken based on the outcome of such investigation.
“The SAPS also has mechanisms in place to report either complaints against the police, or give crime tip-offs, so that these can be investigated.”
Mohlala, on the other hand, said Manamela was not aware of any investigation, and she would not take voluntary leave, should the probe be expanded.
“Moreover, she would not, in whatsoever way, destruct nor impede any investigation which may be instituted against her.”
Spokesperson for the South African Police Union (Sapu) Lesiba Thobakgale said the organisation was aware of the corruption allegations against Manamela, based on information received from its members who had attended some of the functions where she received gifts.
Thobakgale said Sapu was “disappointed” that Manamela was facing “such damning allegations” and that the national commissioner was “condoning corruption” by not acting against her.
Suspending Vuma but “protecting” Manamela amounted to “double standards”.
“Sapu wants to challenge General Masemola to show leadership as this apparent cover-up will seriously compromise the morale of both senior commanders and functionary members on the ground.”
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union did not respond to questions sent by the M&G.