Policing union urges President Ramaphosa to reinstate Fannie Masemola
The South African Police Union (SAPU) has repeated its call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately reinstate suspended National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, amid rampant crime in the country.
Masemola was arrested and charged over the alleged irregular awarding of a major police health-services contract.
SAPU deputy national spokesperson Jabu Mabena said the union is disappointed and shocked that Ramaphosa is still considering Masemola’s reinstatement rather than reinstating him immediately, now that charges have been withdrawn.
SAPU wishes to call upon the president to reinstate General Masemola now. The NDPP and the court have cleared General Masemola. Mr President will advocate to be a law-abiding citizen and respect our courts. Mr President, implement, to show that you respect the court’s decision and reinstate General Masemola.
He said SAPU urges Ramaphosa to reinstate Masemola immediately, arguing that leaving the police commissioner sidelined amid rampant crime (killings, gender-based violence and femicide, and other serious crime) fails to take the country’s safety seriously.
The country needs answers, but the captain (Masemola) of the ship is still sitting at home with no apparent reason, and if the president takes South Africa seriously, he must do the right thing by reinstating Masemola today.
Institute for Security Studies security expert Willem Els suggested that Ramaphosa may be delaying Masemola’s reinstatement to verify whether any further charges are pending, ensuring a stable return to office.
They don’t want to reinstate him, and then next week there are some new charges, and they have to suspend him again. If he’s being reinstated, he should be able to take the helm and also to finish his term.
He highlighted that aside from George Fivaz (1994), no national police commissioner has finished their term since Jackie Selebi’s imprisonment — a cycle of instability that leaders are eager to break to restore trust and morale.
He must be reinstated because, at the end of the day, he’s got a contract, and if he hasn’t violated any clause in that contract, then legally, he’s got a lot of ground to stand on to be reinstated.
In a statement, the South African Communist Party (SACP) called for Masemola’s immediate reinstatement so he can continue his work serving the people of South Africa.