The Madlanga Commission has requested a sworn affidavit and evidence from suspended Mpumalanga Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Daphney Semakaleng Manamela to investigate her claims.
Image: SAPS
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, tasked with investigating corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS), said it has written to suspended Mpumalanga Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Daphney Semakaleng Manamela requesting that she provide a detailed sworn affidavit and evidence supporting the allegations she made in public.
Manamela's incendiary claims, made on April 19, 2026, centre around her assertion that suspended National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, ignored her warnings about corruption prevalent within the province.
During her briefing, Manamela accused Masemola of succumbing to what she labelled as a destructive propaganda campaign aimed at undermining her, which ultimately led to her second suspension.
Notably, Manamela contends that her dismissal relates not to any misconduct on her part, but rather to her efforts to combat collusion between police officers and criminal elements. She further alleges the involvement of a R5 million bribe in her case.
She claimed there was political interference in cases involving illegal mining, kidnappings and political assassinations.
Manamela further alleged that a provincial task team investigating serious crimes was disbanded following her suspension, to compromise those cases.
In response to Manamela's allegations, Masemola denied any wrongdoing and challenged Manamela to submit any evidence she had to the commission.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Michaels, the spokesperson for the commission, emphasised the critical nature of these allegations, stating, “It is important to understand that the commission considers all such allegations through the lens of its Terms of Reference, which specifically inform the mandate of our judicial inquiry into criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system.”
Moreover, Manamela alleged that there was interference tactics into the murder of Hillary Gardee which compromised the case.
In response, the Madlanga Commission mentioned that it has also reached out to the legal representatives of the Gardee family, promptly notifying them of their request for a sworn affidavit from Manamela.
"I can also confirm that the commission has written to the legal representatives of the Gardee family, informing them that we have requested a sworn affidavit from Lt-Gen Manamela."
“The commission will not divulge further details at this stage," Michaels added.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
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