A South African Police Service (SAPS) captain has been suspended after allegedly defrauding the state of millions of rands through a scheme that exploited internal financial systems meant to support high-level security operations.
The officer, attached to the Protection and Security Service finance division, is accused of manipulating the system to divert funds intended for presidential close protection travel expenses into his account.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the suspension on Wednesday, describing the case as a serious breach of trust within a critical arm of the police.
“The member is attached to the finance section of the Protection and Security Service and allegedly used his access to the finance system to withdraw monies running into millions,” said Mathe.
Presidential Protection Unit
Investigators discovered a pattern where the suspect booked out funds under the pretense of operational travel expenses, according to Mathe.
“An investigation has uncovered that he manipulated the system to book out cash for himself under the guise that the money was meant for travelling expenses for close protectors attached to the Presidential Protection Services,” she said.
According to SAPS, the money never reached its intended recipients.
“Further investigations uncovered that the money was not received by the close protectors but booked out in lump sum cash amounts by the member,” Mathe added.
The case was registered at Sunnyside police station in Pretoria following a lengthy internal probe, with the officer now facing both criminal and departmental processes.
“Following a lengthy investigation, a case of fraud was registered at the Sunnyside police station, and an internal departmental investigation has led to his suspension.”
Mathe emphasised that the scandal does not implicate members of the presidential protection unit.
“No close protector attached to the president, deputy president, ministers, or deputy ministers is implicated in this case,” she said.
Controversial Medicare 24 tender
The latest scandal comes amid a widening crackdown on corruption within SAPS, including the high-profile R228-million Medicare 24 tender case that has shaken the upper ranks of the police.
In that matter, about a dozen senior officers, including brigadiers and colonels, were arrested for allegedly manipulating procurement processes to benefit controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Investigators believe the company lacked capacity but still secured the contract, pointing to internal collusion.
The case, now handled by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, has also drawn in national police commissioner Fannie Masemola, who has been summonsed to appear in court this month over failure to perform oversight relating to the tender.
Mathe stated that Masemola has since tasked the SAPS anti-corruption unit to take over the investigation, signalling a renewed push to cleanse the ranks.
“The national commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola, has applauded the financial management division for identifying and uprooting criminality within our ranks and has assigned the SAPS anti-corruption unit to investigate the matter.”
- A South African Police Service (SAPS) captain has been suspended for allegedly defrauding millions by diverting funds meant for presidential close protection travel expenses into his own account.
- The officer, from the Protection and Security Service finance division, manipulated the internal financial system to withdraw large cash sums under false pretenses.
- The case was uncovered after an internal investigation and registered as fraud at Sunnyside police station, with the officer facing criminal and departmental charges.
- SAPS emphasized that no members of the presidential protection unit are implicated in the fraud.
- This incident occurs amid a broader SAPS anti-corruption drive, including a major R228-million Medicare 24 tender scandal involving senior officers and ongoing investigations led by the anti-corruption unit.
