Also known as: SAPS · senior SAPS officers · SAPS Murder and Robbery Unit
South African law enforcement agency facing widespread corruption allegations, including charges against senior officers tied to a R360-million tender fraud and infiltration by criminal cartels.
President Cyril Ramaphosa must decide whether to suspend or place on leave National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, who faces criminal charges tied to a dubiously awarded police tender worth R360-million. The decision comes as SAPS fractures over rival claims of cartel infiltration and corruption among senior officers.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →
President Cyril Ramaphosa must decide whether to suspend or place on leave National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, who faces criminal charges tied to a dubiously awarded police tender worth R360-million. The decision comes as SAPS fractures over rival claims of cartel infiltration and corruption among senior officers.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →
A South African Police Service (SAPS) captain attached to the Protection and Security Services has been suspended for allegedly manipulating the police financial system to pocket millions of rands while falsely claiming the money was for transport expenses related to President Ramaphosa's protection detail. The investigation found the funds were not received by the close protectors but were withdrawn in lump sum cash amounts by the officer.
2 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Nigeria's High Commission has issued an urgent safety advisory to its citizens in South Africa following violent unrest in the Eastern Cape, where protests over the alleged coronation of a Nigerian traditional leader turned violent, causing property damage and injuries. The advisory urges Nigerians to limit public activity, avoid demonstrations, maintain a low profile, and suspend socio-cultural activities amid rising tensions.
31 March 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's Auditor-General has found that the Department of Defence cannot locate portions of its R68.95-billion military asset base, raising concerns about resource management as the country deploys 2,200 troops to crime-affected areas at an estimated cost of R823 million. The department has received recurring qualified audit opinions for nine years and overspent its budget by R2.51 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
30 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's court appearance and testimony at the Madlanga Commission reveals how tender kingpins like Edwin Sodi cultivate political insiders through access and luxury to capture the state from within. The case demonstrates a pattern of patronage networks and state capture similar to previous scandals, with Matlala allegedly developing connections to high-ranking politicians before his arrest on fraud and corruption charges related to a R360-million police tender.
26 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Twelve senior South African Police Service officers, including Brigadier Rachel Matjeng and retired Brigadier Petunia Lenono, have been arrested in connection with a fraudulent R360-million tender awarded to Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's company Medicare 24 Tshwane District in 2024. National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola is also expected to face charges related to the Medicare 24 police contract.
26 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Commercial crime cases in South Africa have nearly doubled over a decade to 143,600 in 2024/25, becoming the only major crime category besides kidnapping that is growing relentlessly, yet official statistics lack granular breakdowns and institutions remain largely silent about the problem. Digital banking fraud has surged 86% in a single year, with AI-enabled scams and social engineering tactics making fraud increasingly sophisticated and difficult to track.
23 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Major general Richard Shibiri, the SAPS head of organised crime, testified at the Madlanga Commission about how criminal syndicates infiltrate police, but now faces damning allegations that he himself accepted a R70,000 loan from an organised crime accused in September 2024. The case underscores widespread institutional compromise and systemic vulnerabilities in South Africa's criminal justice system.
13 March 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that President Ramaphosa's decision to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) against gangsterism on the Cape Flats is flawed because the underfunded military cannot address root causes of crime, the 2019 deployment strategy already failed, and the move diverts scarce resources from the military's core mandate.
17 February 2026 · The Namibian →
An undercover Crime Intelligence officer testified at the Madlanga Commission that senior officials in the agency were involved in the 2017 murder of former ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, and alleged that suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu attempted to persuade him to lie about the case.
27 January 2026 · The Namibian →