Police commissioner General Fannie Masemola will appoint a senior officer to act as divisional commissioner for crime intelligence this week, following the arrest of Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo.
“Internal disciplinary processes are unfolding, and the national commissioner will be appointing a senior officer to act as the divisional commissioner for crime intelligence this week to ensure the work and mandate of the division continue,” said police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe in a brief statement to Sunday World.
The announcement comes after a controversial letter dated July 1, demanding the immediate suspension of seven senior crime intelligence officials arrested by the Investigative Directorate Against Corruption on June 26.
Other officials arrested include crime intelligence’s chief financial officer Philani Lushaba, technical support system manager Brigadier Dineo Mokwele, Gauteng crime intelligence boss Major-General Josias Lekalakala, head of the analysis centre Nosipho Precious Madondo, police technology services chief Zwelithini Gabela, and head of the vetting office Brigadier Phindile Ncube.
Masemola threatened with court action
The letter, sent by Darryl Furman & Associates on behalf of Forensics for Justice NPC, gave Masemola until close of business on Wednesday, July 2, to act or face court action.
It is unclear whether the letter’s demands influenced the decision to appoint an acting divisional commissioner in place of Khumalo or if that decision was part of standard operational procedures following the arrests.
The letter to Maselmola contained what it states is a direct quote from a WhatsApp message allegedly sent by Paul O’Sullivan, the founder of Forensics for Justice NPC, to him.
“I understand you have privately stated you will not suspend him or any of the others going down with him.
“You are given until Monday to suspend them all, or I will launch an urgent application in the high court and will also call for your suspension. Louis Vuitton bag for the wife or not?”
The legal correspondence warned Masemola that “unless we receive your response by the close of business on 2 July 2025 to the effect that the accused persons are all to be suspended, pending disciplinary action, our client shall assume that you will not suspend the accused persons.”
The lawyers threatened that failure to comply would result in “an urgent application in the high court” and “a prayer for punitive costs to be awarded in favour of our client”.
The letter also made sweeping allegations that crime intelligence had “ceased to be an effective tool in the fight against serious crime in South Africa” and had been “led by criminals” for “at least the last 20 years”.
Letter undermines legal processes
Crime expert Calvin Rafadi believes the letter represents undue pressure on the police commissioner and undermines proper legal processes.
“In the event suspensions are due, let the police commissioner be left to do his job, not be intimidated into doing it,” Rafadi said.
“There is a court process underway, and we have General Masemola, who understands his duty to the law and country.
“That is why he is the national police commissioner. He doesn’t need to be threatened to do his job.”
The letter also raised concerns about the chief financial officer of crime intelligence, who controls a budget of R600-million and is currently “languishing in prison, awaiting trial”.
The letter questioned: “Do his colleagues bring his laptop to him in prison so that he may effect electronic transfers?”
It further warned that if the officials were not suspended, “they have the opportunity to not only attempt to cover their tracks but also continue to commit further crime”.
Masemola has not responded publicly to the demands in the letter or clarified whether any formal suspensions have been implemented.
- This is a developing story.
