Suspended Mpumalanga commissioner alleges political, business interference in policing

Picture for illustration purposes. Picture: Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu Suspended Mpumalanga police commissioner Daphney Manamela has made several allegations against her colleagues and her boss, national police commissioner Fannie Masemola. Manamela held a media briefing on Sunday, in which she alleged that politicians and businesspeople have captured policing in the province, resulting in the illegal movement of dockets and bribery of police officers.

She alleged that police officers in the province interfere in investigations into political killings, manipulation of the docket management system, illegal mining, extortion and human trafficking. “We have been on a public trial for a period of more than two years, embarrassed, humiliated, undermined, victimised and accused by some of our colleagues and journalists with unsubstantiated and unverified information based on lies,” said Manamela. “Our dignity has been tainted as we touched and pressed the buttons that were never touched or pressed.

We are prepared to stand by our words and face the consequences of being dismissed from the service, if need be.” Manamela said on 13 December 2025, the South African Police Service (Saps) in Mpumalanga hosted the Excellence Awards, and Saps members were awarded home appliances worth R25 000 each. “It is not established where the money was sourced,” she said. Manamela further alleged that in February last year, a police officer confessed to receiving R5 million in a bribe, which was also shared with top cops to ensure she never returns to work.

[paywall]

Her return to work would result in the cases being reopened, she claimed. These include the fraud and corruption cases involving the construction of the Mbombela stadium. “I was suspended by General Masemola for enforcing discipline, despite the fact that I made him aware of my frustrations,” she alleged.

National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the Saps followed the media briefing and that all the allegations cannot be ignored. “Any allegations of misconduct, wrongdoing, interference with a criminal or political or any organisational failure are treated by the Saps with the utmost seriousness, irrespective of the rank or position of those involved,” Mathe told theSABC.

[/paywall]