Masemola back in charge of SAPS on Monday as Cachalia lifts suspension

National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola will resume his full duties on Monday, 19 October 2026, after President Cyril Ramaphosa uplifted his precautionary suspension.

The suspension was lifted following the formal withdrawal of criminal charges against him. Those charges stemmed from allegations of contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, which led to Masemola’s appearance in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court. The charges were formally withdrawn following an instruction by National Prosecuting Authority head Advocate Andy Mothibi in September.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia welcomed the President’s decision in a statement on Friday, and expressed appreciation to Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane for her service as Acting National Commissioner during Masemola’s suspension.

Cachalia said the return of the National Commissioner gives SAPS leadership the chance to keep its attention on operational priorities and on the work of building a professional, capable and trusted police service under the Police Reset Agenda.

“The Ministry remains committed to strengthening the South African Police Service as we continue with the Police Reset Agenda, advancing professionalism, accountability, and ensuring that the organisation remains focused on its constitutional mandate to protect and serve all people in South Africa,” the statement read.

Masemola’s return leaves the question of accountability over the withdrawn PFMA allegations where the record places it, in the decision taken by the National Prosecuting Authority in September and the court process that ended with the charges formally withdrawn.

This report is drawn from the SAnews (South African Government News Agency) account of the Acting Minister’s statement, which summarises that statement rather than reproducing it in full. The original notice is at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/cachalia-welcomes-masemolas-return-national-police-commissioner