National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola says co-operation within South Africa’s criminal justice system has improved, despite ongoing corruption and past allegations of widespread infiltration.
Image: Zwelethemba Kostile / Parliament
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola said there have been improvements in the criminal justice system, following earlier warnings from KZN police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that it faced sustained threats, sabotage and the risk of collapse if not addressed.
Masemola made the remarks on Tuesday while appearing before an ad hoc committee established to examine allegations against the South African Police Service.
He was responding to questions from Advocate Norman Arendse SC, who referred to a media statement issued on July 6, 2025.
The statement, Arendse said, created the impression that South Africa was effectively under siege, with claims that the criminal justice system - including the judiciary, police and other law enforcement agencies - had been infiltrated.
The briefing in question followed allegations by Mkhwanazi of corruption, the shielding of criminal syndicates and political interference within SAPS.
Arendse told the committee that evidence presented thus far implicated several senior police officials, as well as some prosecutors and magistrates, though little concrete evidence had been presented against members of the judiciary.
He asked Masemola whether he still shared that assessment or whether conditions had improved.
Masemola confirmed that corruption remained within the police service.
“Yes, the issue of corruption is still there. Unfortunately, to pinpoint individuals, the full investigation process must be completed,” he said.
However, he added that co-operation between different arms of the state had improved since July 2025.
He pointed to an example from Gauteng, where members of the Gauteng Counter Intelligence operations previously had to take case dockets through multiple prosecutors before matters could be enrolled in court.
“That has improved,” he said, adding that previously only some prosecutors were willing to assist, while others were not.
Masemola said several matters remained under investigation and declined to name individuals, citing safety concerns.
He also referred to alleged information leaks that may have compromised operations.
He said that during a planned raid on December 6, 2024, suspects were apparently tipped off in advance.
The operation targeted the residence of murder accused businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala in an effort to locate kidnapping victim - businessman Jerry Boshoga.
Masemola said the leaks were still under investigation but indicated systemic challenges.
In January this year, Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo told the committee that the investigation into Boshoga’s kidnapping had faced disruptions.
He said the original investigative team, which had been at an advanced stage, was replaced by another team without Masemola’s knowledge.
The decision was taken by suspended Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya.
Khumalo described the move as irregular and said it was not in line with SAPS procedures.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi
Image: Facebook / SAPS
He added that there had been no explanation from Sibiya for the decision.
“It was a chaotic moment,” Khumalo said.
He said it took several months for the original team to be reinstated after Masemola intervened.
The December 2024 operation formed part of a broader investigation into Boshoga’s kidnapping.
It involved a joint effort by the Gauteng Counter Intelligence unit and the Political Killings Task Team, supported by the Special Task Force.
Khumalo said the operation was conducted without a warrant due to concerns that evidence could be lost. He added that suspects appeared to have prior knowledge of the raid.
During the search, officers confiscated four firearms and five mobile phones from Matlala’s residence, pointing to non-compliance with the Firearms Control Act.
Meanwhile, Masemola maintained that, despite ongoing challenges, there had been “significant improvement” in co-ordination and processes within the criminal justice system since mid-2025.
The committee continues.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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