Cyril Ramaphosa breaks silence on General Fannie Masemola; SA questions his continued suspension

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed the country’s top policeman on “precautionary suspension” after he was charged in court on Tuesday.

Gen Fannie Masemola, 62, is alleged to have failed in his oversight duties in connection with the awarding of a controversial $21m (£15.5m) health contract, which has become the subject of a criminal investigation and has since been cancelled.

Masemola will be suspended until the court case is concluded, he added.

Ramaphosa, who has been under growing pressure to stamp out police corruption, stressed that it was vital for the law enforcement agencies to be “capable, ethical and effective” and that they have the confidence of the people of South Africa.

Masemola, who was also not asked to enter a plea, is the only one who has not been charged with corruption. He faces four counts of breaching the public finances act.