South African police chief to return to work after suspension lifted

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has lifted the suspension of the country’s national police chief, Fannie Masemola, his office announced on Friday.

Masemola is expected to resume his duties on Monday after he was suspended in April when he was charged with breaking finance laws related to an allegedly corrupt police contract.

He was charged alongside other senior officers who are suspected of fraud, corruption and money laundering in connection with the contract, but those charges were dropped by the country’s National Prosecuting Authority in September.

President Ramaphosa welcomes the National Police Commissioner on his return to his full duties.

Ramaphosa also thanked Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane, who served as acting national police commissioner in the interim.