How Dimpane opposed SAPS clearing Khumalo, team

Acting national police commissioner Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane called for an independent investigation into Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo and six other officers after warning that the internal SAPS probe clearing them was incomplete and had failed to consider all the relevant evidence.

Dimpane, then acting deputy national commissioner for support services, made the intervention in an information note dated August 15, 2025, two weeks after retired Western Cape police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembisile Patekile completed the departmental investigation.

Patekile found no prima facie evidence of misconduct against Khumalo and senior officers Philani Lushaba, Josias Lekalakala, Nozipho Madondo, Zwelithini Gabela and PC Ncube.

His investigation followed their arrest by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) over Brigadier Dineo Mokwele’s appointment to Crime Intelligence.

But Dimpane said the SAPS could not safely rely on Patekile’s conclusion because the report had not resolved the allegations at the heart of the case.

“The report is inconclusive and does not contain all relevant evidence necessary for an informed decision.”

The dispute centred on allegations that Mokwele submitted false or misleading information in her application and CV.

Patekile said the allegation could not be conclusively determined because information had not been obtained from BMW and a person identified in the documents as Mr Saayman.

He referred the matter back to Idac and acknowledged that his finding would have to be reconsidered if further evidence emerged.

Dimpane argued that it meant the inquiry remained unfinished. “The report should either be supplemented by further investigation or be referred to another investigating officer,” she said.

She also challenged Patekile’s decision to discount an affidavit by senior Idac investigator Brian Padayachee.

Patekile concluded that the affidavit added no value to his investigation.

Dimpane disagreed. “This conclusion is disputed,” she wrote. “The affidavit contained information relevant to the allegations against Brigadier Mokwele.”

Her intervention was significant because she had initiated the disciplinary process after the arrests.

The SAPS first considered precautionary suspension but temporarily transferred most of the officers while Patekile investigated allegations ranging from fraud and corruption to defeating the ends of justice.

Dimpane recommended that Patekile’s report be set aside or reconsidered and National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola appoint an investigator from outside the SAPS.

She said independence was justified by “the sensitivity of the matter”, “the seniority of the officials involved”, “the nature of the allegations” and “the public interest involved”.

Her note went further than identifying missing evidence. It questioned whether Patekile had properly applied his mind before clearing the officers.

“The failure to consider all relevant evidence creates a risk that the investigation was incomplete.”

Human resource management and SAPS legal services resisted her proposal to nullify the report.

They advised that the discipline regulations did not provide for an investigating officer’s report to be erased.

They accepted, however, that an inadequate report could be returned for further investigation or referred to a new investigating officer.

Dimpane was also informed that the 60-day period governing the officers’ temporary transfers would expire on September 7, 2025.

She later recused herself from the matter.

The documents do not explain when she had recused herself or why.

Her concerns were independently reinforced by SAPS head of litigation Maj-Gen Dipuo Ramorena-Tsoai.

Masemola summoned Ramorena-Tsoai on the night of August 20 and asked for an urgent, objective assessment of the disciplinary documents.

After studying the report, she advised him the following day that it “appeared inconclusive” and further investigation might be required before a final decision was taken.

Ramorena-Tsoai also advised that Patekile could supplement the report and the SAPS could consider appointing an independent external investigator because of the case’s sensitivity, complexity and public importance.

Masemola nevertheless approved the human resource management recommendation on August 21.

The SAPS was then authorised to inform the senior officers that no prima facie misconduct had been established and to lift their temporary transfers.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe declined to comment on internal departmental processes involving individual employees.

Setumo Stone